Cheruiyot Kirui’s partner: ‘I will miss your random pancake and tea sessions…’
Kenyan mountaineer Cheruiyot Kirui, who died while attempting to summit Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen, was celebrated by his family and friends at a memorial service at Citam, Valley Road, Nairobi on June 4.
Cheruiyot, 40, who was with Nepalese guide, Nawang Sherpa, fell into a crevasse 48 metres below the 8,849-metre peak. Sherpa is still missing.
The deceased’s family said it would be too risky for rescuers to retrieve Kirui’s body from such a high altitude.
His body lies in state on the summit of Mount Everest in Nepal, thousands of miles from home.
During the memorial service, Cheruiyot’s partner Nakhulo Khaimia paid tribute to him, describing him as romantic.
“It’s hard to believe I’m writing a tribute to this gentleman – Cheruiyot. I was sure he’d be back in the country by now, playing down the Everest story like it was no big deal.
“I had special nicknames for him: Kirui, Josh or Joshua (he didn’t like the last two), but his favourite was Baba Chero. Every time I called him by that name, his eyes would light up with joy…” she began.
She shared several memories of their love.
“I remember our first Valentine’s Day together, he warned me and told me, “Nakhulo, I am a Kalenjin man. Do not expect flowers from me. Don’t expect cakes from me… Cheruiyot, I will miss your random pancake and tea sessions… I will miss our trips to Kasarani to buy goat meat for your special recipes,” Nakhulo eulogised.
Highlighting some of Cheruiyot’s attributes, she said: “You are a kind man, intelligent and wise. You had a sense of humour and most importantly, you showed me what it means to be loved. I will miss you so much,” she added.
Nakhulo expressed her deep pain at the irreplaceable loss.
She said: “I’ve known Cheruiyot for three years; we started dating in 2021.
“There’s a stereotype that Kalenjin men aren’t romantic, but I’d like to dispel that myth. Cheruiyot always went out of his way to make me happy, surprising me with cakes after an argument with messages like ‘Lost Best’, ‘Just Because’ and ‘It’s Cake Time’.
“On our first Valentine’s Day together, he told me he wasn’t into traditional celebrations. But later that day, he texted me to say he’d bought plants for me to grow and take care of, a gesture that melted my heart”.
In the heartfelt message, she also told his daughter, Cherotich – from a previous relationship – that her father was a good man and a loving father.
“He spoke fondly of his daughter and it was heart-warming to hear all the plans he had for her. Cherotich, your father was a good man. Kirui, you ghosted me. You left our WhatsApp group and left me here wondering what’s next,” she said in her tribute.
Cheruiyot’s parents, Wilson Kenduiywo and Ruth Kenduiywo, bravely eulogised their beloved son. The father urged parents to pay close attention to their children’s character while raising them.
“When we raise our children, we don’t know what they will become in the future. But the most important thing is to remember two things when you raise your children: character and hard work. If you can get that, then you will be good,” Mr Kenduiywo said.
His mother dedicated one of her favourite hymns; “Blessed Assurance” to her son during the service.