Migori Lawyer to Walk 360km to Nairobi for Mental Health Awareness

A Migori-based advocate is preparing to undertake a 360-kilometre walk to Nairobi in a bid to spark a national conversation on mental health and push for greater awareness and support systems across Kenya.

Fred Gori announced that he will walk from Migori to Nairobi later this year under the banner “Walking the Mind,” a campaign designed to highlight the country’s escalating mental health crisis and challenge the silence surrounding psychological well-being.

In a statement explaining the motivation behind the journey, Gori reflected on his long-standing familiarity with the Migori–Nairobi route through public transport, saying the journey has been part of his life for decades.

“I have travelled the Migori – Nairobi route more times than I count. Sometimes I have travelled during the night, other times during the day. Easy Coach has been my favourite brand for 20 years,” he said.

“I love travelling public because 1, it is consistent with the depth of my pocket and 2, I don’t have to stress. I can sit, relax, sleep, as route experts do their thing,” Gori added.

Turning a Familiar Journey Into Advocacy

However, Gori now intends to complete the same journey in an entirely different way, on foot, transforming a routine travel corridor into a path of advocacy.

“This August/September, however, I will do something different. I will do the long trek, from Migori to Nairobi. 360 km. All of it on God-given legs,” he said.

According to Gori, the walk is meant to bring attention to mental health struggles affecting thousands of Kenyans who often suffer in silence due to stigma, limited access to services, and a lack of open dialogue.

“I will do so to confront Kenya’s escalating mental health crisis,” he explained.

“Dubbed ‘Walking the Mind’, the Walk seeks to move the national conversation from silence to support, ensuring that ‘No Health Without Mental Health’ becomes a localized reality for every Kenyan,” Gori lamented.

Several alarms have been sounded over the rising mental illnesses in Kenya, and advocacy groups are calling for more funding and awareness on mental health.

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A Growing Culture of Walking for Causes

The planned trek by Gori is part of a growing culture in Kenya in which people are using long-distance walking to champion social causes or mobilize public support for various issues.

One of the earliest and most notable persons associated with walks for advocacy was Michael Werikhe, commonly known as “The Rhino Man,” who walked thousands of kilometers in Africa and beyond in the 1980s and 1990s to raise funds and awareness for the conservation of black rhinos.

Another conservation advocate in Kenya, Jim Nyamu, has been walking long distances in various continents worldwide to advocate against the poaching of elephants and to promote wildlife conservation activities.

In recent times, activist Anthony Wanjiku has undertaken a walk from Nairobi to Nakuru, covering a distance of 157 kilometers, with the aim of promoting HIV and mental health awareness.

According to Wanjiku, the walk was meant to support people who are fighting mental health challenges silently.

Recently, activist Anthony Wanjiku has embarked on a journey from Nairobi to Nakuru, traveling a distance of 157 kilometers, with the aim of raising awareness on HIV and mental health.

Other notable instances are the advocacy walks undertaken by comedian Eric Omondi and Kamba musician Biez Kaviru, in which the two sought to draw national attention to the causes that they supported.

Omondi undertook a 486-km walk from Nairobi to Mombasa dubbed “Walk of Love” in a bid to raise funds for a rescue center that supported vulnerable Kenyans.

On the other hand, Biez undertook a 170-km walk from Kitui to Nairobi in a bid to petition the government to declare cancer a national disaster.

Also Read: OpenAI Reports Percentage of ChatGPT Users Showing Signs of Serious Mental Health Issues

Mental Health in the National Spotlight

According to health advocates, the rising number of awareness walks is a reflection of a larger trend in how people engage in mental health discussions.

Organised walks and endurance hikes are becoming popular means of not just ensuring people’s physical wellness but also their mental resilience, as experts point out that regular exercise can help people overcome stress, anxiety, and depression.

Aside from that, these walks also provide an opportunity for people to engage in discussions and raise awareness about mental health issues in a collective manner instead of individually.

The 360-kilometre walk for Gori is meant to represent the long journey people go through in dealing with mental health issues.

As preparations for the ambitious walk later in the year begin, the Migori-based advocate hopes that every kilometre achieved will help propel the nation towards a future where mental health is taken just as seriously as physical health.

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Gertrude’s Family Cancer Walk. PHOTO/Courtesy