Steve Obbayi is the first Kenyan to attempt summiting Mt Everest

“If I die, I will have died doing what I love doing.” These are Steve Obbayi’s words, and the ultimate reality that one facing a daunting and risky task has to contend with. It is as solemn as it is exciting for him to be the first Kenyan to attempt summiting Mt Everest. If his dream of setting foot atop the highest surface on earth comes true, then he will be among very few human beings to have left their footprints at the zenith of our planet. Official numbers indicate that just more than 2,000 have been successful in this endeavour. The sense of accomplishment and exultation on achieving this feat is unimaginable. Between him and the summit of Mt Everest, however, lie temperatures in negative degrees, disease vectors, frigid weather and the ‘death zone’ — which not everyone is lucky enough to cross back alive. Just prospects of being the first Kenyan to climb Mt Everest is dizzying enough, says Obbayi. “I can’t guarantee success, but if I make it, I will have succeeded in proving to Kenyans that no difficulty is beyond us if we set our sights and train our conviction.”

“If I die, I will have died doing what I love doing.” These are Steve Obbayi’s words, and the ultimate reality that one facing a daunting and risky task has to contend with. It is as solemn as it is exciting for him to be the first Kenyan to attempt summiting Mt Everest. If his dream of setting foot atop the highest surface on earth comes true, then he will be among very few human beings to have left their footprints at the zenith of our planet. Official numbers indicate that just more than 2,000 have been successful in this endeavour. The sense of accomplishment and exultation on achieving this feat is unimaginable. Between him and the summit of Mt Everest, however, lie temperatures in negative degrees, disease vectors, frigid weather and the ‘death zone’ — which not everyone is lucky enough to cross back alive. Just prospects of being the first Kenyan to climb Mt Everest is dizzying enough, says Obbayi. “I can’t guarantee success, but if I make it, I will have succeeded in proving to Kenyans that no difficulty is beyond us if we set our sights and train our conviction.”
Read more at: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/lifestyle/article/2000109250/taking-kenya-to-the-top-of-the-world