Cheruiyot Kirui, a 40-year-old Kenyan climber and banker, was an experienced mountaineer known for his numerous ascents of the highest mountains in Africa, and across the world.
He recently lost his life while attempting to climb Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen. Kirui and his Sherpa guide, Nawang, went missing in the “death zone” above 8,000 meters, a perilous area where many climbers have perished due to harsh conditions and lack of oxygen.
Photo: Cheruiyot AK. Source: Facebook
Mount Manaslu Fete
He had previously scaled Mount Manaslu, the world’s eighth highest peak, without supplemental oxygen, making him the first African to achieve this feat. He climbed Mount Manaslu in Nepal as part of his preparations for Mount Everest, which requires massive effort and strategy to reach the peak.
Locally, he has scaled Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro multiple times, a fete only achieved by the best mountain climbers. He has also participated in local marathons as a runner.
Photo: Cheruiyot AK. Source: Facebook
Professional Career
Professionally, Kirui was a banker with Kenya Commercial Bank. His quest to climb Everest without supplemental oxygen was part of his pursuit to test human limits.
Unfortunately, this attempt proved fatal when he and his Sherpa guide, Nawang, lost contact with their team at an altitude of around 8,000 meters, an area known as the “death zone” due to its extremely low oxygen levels​. In his memory, Every Today has honored Cheruiyot by naming the spot he died after him.