Walk In Love Project Account (Securing Gains Made, Seeking Further Support)

Inspired by a common background (The need to pursue University education) the trio of Eddy Orinda, Onesmus Orinda and John Gobanga got together to venture into a 200Km walk event.

The event was set for the 14th of February 2004 (Valentine’s Day) to a climax ending in Nakuru on the 18th of February 2004. In consistent pursuit of the same, we managed to put a colorful flag off ceremony from the Jomo Kenyatta Grounds Kisumu. The event was graced by John Olago Aluoch – A prominent lawyer and Kisumu Town West Parliamentary aspirant, assisted by Cllr. Shakil Shabir now His Worship the Mayor of Kisumu alongside Cllr. Shelly Awan. The business community and the public were well represented at the event.

With a good security presence the Walk officially began at 1.10pm from the grounds through Oginga Odinga Street and off to Nairobi road. Along with four other supportive volunteers ( Mercy Ogutu, John Omondi, Amos Oguna and Wilson Lubangah), we experienced an adventurous journey for five days and four nights and finally arrived in Nakuru at 1.30pm ushered by the police into the town providing walk security and convenience a long the Nakuru streets on which we toured.

We had four major stops as follows: Day One – Kisumu to Awasi, Day Two – Awasi to Kericho, Day Three – Kericho to Kedowa, Day Four – Kedowa to Salgaa and Finally Salgaa to Nakuru. Officially hosted and received by Bishop Mark Kariuki of Nakuru Deliverance Church (Life Celebration Center)

We managed to pay a courtesy call to the DO 1 in Kericho and the DC in Nakuru on the third and fifth days respectively.

In this account we raise our plight to the public who were not necessarily able to walk with us but acknowledged our efforts and our desperate need to make our lives and of other Kenyans better.

The Walk event has conceived a lifetime committed foundation (Walk In Love Foundation) that will enable other needy students with the same plight to pursue their dreams in education and build their professionals lives.

The WIL Project introduces to you the ‘LOVE PARCELS’ as a point of contact for your generous donations. There are 70 parcels in total out there and we are targeting filling at least 40 of them by the end of March 2004.

We are also careful to say thank you to all who participated and supported in kind, cash or both at any stage. We really are proud of you and we say THANK YOU SO MUCH! You walked with us an extra mile to make a difference in our lives and indeed that of the beneficiaries of the conceived Walk In Love Foundation.

Kindly let this walk go beyond 200Km and into the future through your support and good will. We still are not close to our target of 2 Million Kenya Shillings hence the reason for the one month campaign climaxing on the 11th of April 2004. Your coin will make all the difference. Please access the tins in Kericho, Kisumu, Nakuru and Nairobi for your contribution.

The project officially winds up on the 11th of April 2004 with a major concert whose objective will be two fold. One to publicly acknowledge support in all kind and to officially launch the Walk In Love Foundation (Concert details will follow shortly in the publicity materials) please plan to attend. Come and view our photo gallery and experience the walk on the same day. We took tones of photos on the way and during courtesy calls.

The walk will be an annual event and will be celebrated every 14th of February. We are currently seeking and recruiting volunteers to help develop products for the wind concert and as well facilitate the campaign.

Eddy Orinda is proceeding to the University of Kiev in Ukraine to study International Economic Relations with a Major in International Law.

John Gobanga is returning to Pan Africa Christian College to complete his degree in Theology.

Onesmus Orinda is proceeding to the University of Central England in Birmingham to study Fashion and Interior Design.

For any information please get in touch with us via wilproject@yahoo.com or call us on 0722 502908 or 0734 661745.

Eddy Orinda
Partnerships/Event Manager
Walk In Love Project
P. O Box 2006, Kisumu, Kenya.
Email: wilproject@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.projects.takingitglobal.org/wilproject


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‘It was a lifetime experience that changed my frame of thinking. We must now secure the gains made as we seek further support’ – Eddy Orinda, Partnerships/Event Manager.

‘It revealed to me the vigor and vision that the pursuit for success needs’ – Onesmus Orinda, Media and Publicity.

‘After a four month stint of mirage, I can finally see light at the end of tunnel. It was worth it’ – John Gobanga, Logistics Coordinator.

‘When he first spoke to me I sat back and thought. Oh! My God this is a great idea!’ – Cllr. Shelly Awan

‘It is a good course and I think this is the direction we should take as Kenyans’ – Patrick Osare, District Commissioner Nakuru

‘They are walking for it, not waiting for it’ – John Olago Aluoch, Lawyer and Parliamentary Aspirant for Kisumu Town West Constituency.

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Thank you for accepting to partner with us in this cause. Indeed “true love can walk an extra mile”

Idea conceived on the 3rd of September 2003 at 1am by Eddy Orinda and further developed by Onesmus Orinda.

John Gobanga was invited into the project in the month of November 2003.

Every walker made at least 1 000 000 strides

Each day we walked an average of 40Km

All the seven walkers drunk a total of 220 Liters of water and Soda.

We spent five days and four nights

We had a total of four stops all the way.

The longest stretch was 47Km (Kisumu – Awasi)

The shortest stretch was 25Km (Salgaa – Nakuru)

The only lady in the walking team (Mercy Ogutu) had the least demand for massages and first aid.

The youngest walker was John Omondi.

The eldest walker was Wilson Lubangah.

John Gobanga walked for five days without massage or any form of first aid.

The most serious injuries were egg size blisters suffered by Wilson Lubnagah and could not go beyond Awasi.

Six walkers went all the way – 200Km.

The walks generally started at 8am each morning and ended at 8pm every night.

The best hospitality was offered by Nakuru Deliverance Church at no cost.

There were no corporate contributions. The project was entirely supported by the youth and individuals.

The project took five months to organize.

The ‘LOVE PARCELS’ were launched by the Deputy Mayor on the 15th of January 2004 at the British Council.

There was no media coverage for the event by any of the media houses.

There are a total of 70 ‘LOVE PARCELS’ in the public spread across Kisumu, Kericho, Nakuru and Nairobi.

The beneficiaries this year are three.

Gold, Silver and Bronze contributors will be acknowledged on the 11th of April 2004.

250 photos taken between Kisumu and Nakuru.