Nakhulo Khaimia has paid her tribute to her late partner, mountaineer Cheruiyot Kirui, remembering him as a romantic and loving man.
Speaking during the mountaineer’s memorial service at CITAM Church Valley Road, she shared their love story and the moments Cheruiyot shared with his daughter.
Khaimia noted that their love story began in 2019 through a shared interest in running, and blossomed in 2020 when she reached out to Cheruiyot for a book review.
“I knew him back in 2019 through the running circles but never got any attention. In 2020, I posted a book of Kenyan runners by a British guy
“I went on social media, posted about it, and guys asked if I had read about Cheruiyot. I looked for him and after I reviewed his book, Cheruiyot said he hoped we would meet someday,” Khaimia said.
While debunking claims that Kalenjin men are not romantic, Khaimia remembered their dinner dates and sweet nicknames that he gave her.
Additionally, she disclosed how Cheruiyot was close to his daughter and how he cherished his role as a father, earning him the nickname ‘Baba Chero’ from her.
“I had some nicknames for him, like Kirui, Josh, or Joshua, but he didn’t like them. His favourite was Baba Chero. The first time we met, he told me, ‘I have a mini-me.’ Every time I called him Baba Chero, you could see his face light up,” she shared.
Khaimia also discussed Cheruiyot’s impressive tea brewing skills, his unique meat recipes and their Sunday runs at Karura Forest.
Cheruiyot died in May while attempting to scale Mt. Everest without supplemental oxygen. He was found dead in a zone dubbed, ‘Everest’s Death Zone’, above 8,000 metres.
Everest Today, which covers mountaineering over the Himalayas, announced his death in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, saying, “with profound sadness who share the news of Kenyan mountaineer Cheruiyot Kibet’s passing on Mt. Everest. His body was found a few meters below the summit point of Mt. Everest.”
Before this harrowing discovery, Cheruiyot and his guide were reported missing after they lost contact at Bishop Rock.
The news was shared by Mingma Sharpa, the CEO of Seven Summit Treks (SST), a mountaineering company based in Kathmandu, Nepal, which was in communication with the two.
The company immediately launched a search party which is believed to have led to the discovery of Cheruiyot’s body hours after he was reported missing.
Following the incident, Cheruiyot’s family later issued a statement disclosing their decision to let his body remain on the mountain.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, May 29, the family said the decision was made after extensive consultations and careful consideration of all circumstances.
“Following the death of Joshua Cheruiyot Kirui on Mt. Everest on May 22, 2024, the family has made the difficult decision to let his body remain on Mt. Everest.
“Cheruiyot fell into a crevasse 48 meters from the summit (8,848 meters) and retrieving his body from that high up would be risky for the rescue team, the family does not wish to endanger any life,” the family said in a statement.
The family also thanked the outdoor community for the support they have offered and the Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) where Cheruiyot worked.
