Samuel Kilonzo, popularly known as Sam Kitiki, has spent years perfecting his craft as a celebrity barber. However, a diagnosis of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) cancer has turned his life upside down.
In a heartbreaking message shared with his followers, Sam admitted that the disease is advancing and the physical pain is becoming unbearable.
Despite his declining health, Sam has continued to show up at his Mombasa barbershop whenever his body allows him to.
Every shilling he earns is immediately channelled into his medical treatment. Recently, the emotional and financial weight became too much to bear. Sam confessed that he felt like giving up as his client numbers dwindled.
“To be honest, I am exhausted—physically, mentally, and emotionally—and there are moments when I feel like giving up and letting this disease take its course,” Kitiki’s emotional post read in part.
The Journey to Mombasa
Upon seeing Sam’s plea for help, comedian-turned-philanthropist Eric Omondi took immediate action. Eric travelled to Mombasa to meet Sam in person at his place of work.
In a video shared on social media, Eric is seen entering the barbershop to offer his support directly.
The encounter was deeply personal. Eric took a seat in the barber’s chair, allowing Sam to do what he does best. As Sam worked on the haircut, the scene captured a man who, despite his illness, still possesses a passion for his trade. Eric used the visit to highlight Sam’s resilience and to call for national support.
The Vision for ‘Kilonzo Day’
Eric is not just offering a one-time donation. He has organised a massive fundraising event dubbed “Kilonzo Day,” scheduled for this Sunday at Uhuru Park in Nairobi.
He has invited everyone to attend and get a haircut as a way of contributing to Sam’s medical fund.
The initiative has two main goals. The first is to provide Sam with a “fighting chance” by funding his ongoing cancer treatment. The second is to help Sam actualise a long-held dream: opening a specialised barbershop.
“We are going to support him fully… to help actualise his dream of opening a barber shop where he will be shaving children with autism, people living with cancer, and the disabled for free,” Omondi said.
A Community Call to Action
The campaign is gaining significant traction online. Sam’s original post, detailing his struggle, garnered over 7,075 likes and hundreds of comments within just two days. Eric Omondi is now calling on all barbers and salonists across the country to join the cause at Uhuru Park.
Through this initiative, Eric Omondi hopes to turn Sam’s exhaustion into hope. By rallying the public, the goal is to ensure that Sam Kitiki does not have to fight this battle alone.
BY moses sagwe
