High ambition that saw 15-year-old boy reach the peak of Mount Kenya

Peter Muambi made it to the highest peak of Mt Kenya

Peter Muambi, 15, spent his Christmas holiday preparing to climb Mt Kenya and when he did it, he reached the mountain’s highest peak, believed to be be 5,199 metres above sea level (17,057 feet).

His two previous attempts to reach the peak of Mt Kenya, Africa’s second highest mountain, were frustrated by bad weather and sickness. His first attempt on December 10, 2013 was cut short when he reached Old Moses camp, which is 3,300 metres above sea level. “I had a very bad experience. The weather was harsh and I even got sick and my guide decided that we should go back. But I never gave up,” said Muambi, as he showed me pictures and videos of his failed expedition at his parent’s home in Nakuru County.

The adventurous teenager, who is the son of Prof Gitile Naituli, a commissioner with the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), planned a return expedition in February 2014, but his parents were against the idea, fearing the worst might happen to him.

“They (parents) were a little scared after my first experience ended badly. They did not want me to risk it, but I had this burning ambition inside me to conquer the mountain,” said Muambi, who dreams of a career in the military as a search and rescue officer.

Luckily, Muambi’s school - Greensteds International School - was planning an expedition to Mt Kenya where the students were to climb up to Point Lenana, the third highest summit (after Batian and Nelion) at 5,188 metres above sea level).

A majority of trekkers who declare they have “climbed Mt Kenya” have usually only reached the summit of Lenana, according to experts. Muambi said the school expedition revived his quest to climb the mountain. “That trip made all the difference. It was not enough to claim that I have climbed Africa’s second highest mountain without reaching its peak. I wanted to accomplish something,” he said. On returning from the school trip, Samuel Muloba, one of his teachers, encouraged Muambi to take up the challenge after realising that the boy was asking many questions about the highest peak of Mt Kenya.

“I recall Mr Muloba telling me it was possible to accomplish what one wishes no matter how many times you try and fail. That really encouraged me. I went to my dad and asked him if he could buy me genuine climbing gear and also get someone to train me in mountaineering. He agreed,” said the teenager.

Not wanting to let down his son, Prof Naituli purchased the gear worth over Sh200,000 and engaged a skilled mountaineer to train him. “I made sure I was present during the training at Hells Gate and Mt Longonot because I was not sure of what the boy wanted to achieve and I did not want him to risk too much,” said Naituli, a professor of management and leadership at a local university.

Muambi prepared to make a second attempt to conquer the mountain in August 2014. But the family decided to postpone the trip. He never gave up. Muambi continued with his training at Hells Gate as his father dug deeper into his pocket to help his son fulfill his dream.

“I was ready to realise my dream no matter how challenging. I had this free spirit and love of adventure that kept on inspiring me to go for it,” said Muambi. Planning the expedition to the mountain’s highest peak took a few months, as he had to identify an experienced guide, save up for the trip and make sure he was physically fit.
“Hells Gate National Park and Mt Longonot were ideal training grounds. I also worked on my physical fitness back at home where I lifted small weights,” recalled Muambi.
To build his confidence, Muambi watched documentaries about mountaineering and read a lot of literature on Mt Kenya, which he said helped in the preparations.

In December last year, he got very excited about the thought of being one of the youngest people to conquer Mt Kenya. Accompanied by his father, Muambi began his eight day expedition up Mt Kenya: “We hired a porter to carry my 10 kilogramme bag that contained climbing gear, cooking utensils, clothes, water and other items that we required for the expedition.

”His father, who financed the entire expedition, decided to remain behind at the forest gate after Muambi, his guide and the porter changed into walking gear to embark on the nine-kilometre trek to the Old Moses camp.

“We took the north-eastern side of the mountain peak that is considered one of the toughest by trekkers,” said Muambi. The climbing was tough: “Steep cracks and chimneys led us to the top tower. This part was icy and snowy and very difficult...”

Muambi said there were a few easier sections, and then a very difficult patch. “We did the ice climb, which was very challenging because you had to dig into the ice to reach the harder ice where you can step. Almost three quarters up the rock climb to Batian, we were hit by an alpine thunderstorm that would have been catastrophic if we never turned around.... but decided to try one more time,” recalled Muambi. At 12 noon on December 30, they conquered the summit of Nelion. The summit of Batian was just three hours away.

“After intense ice and downward climbing, we got to Batian...” Muambi said with a smile. The youngster said it is never about how many times one tries, but how many times one is willing to try one’s hardest: “If you fail, try one more time.” It took them a total of 12 hours to go up and down the mountain. “We took pictures at the peak and then we started the descent,” he said, adding that they went down the same way they had gone up, but with a few time-saving variations.