Eric Omondi’s Campaign Raises Ksh5.66 Million in 48 Hours for Kakamega Banana Vendor
Kenyan comedian and activist Eric Omondi has announced a major milestone in the fundraising drive for Bryson Makokha, a young banana vendor from Kakamega in Western Kenya.
Just 48 hours after launching the appeal through his Sisi Kwa Sisi social movement, the campaign has raised Ksh5,665,000 in direct mobile money donations.
Rapid Medical Response
Responding to a viral video, Omondi pledged full support for Makokha and his family through the initiative. Makokha was subsequently transported to Nairobi for specialised medical testing and diagnostic evaluations.
Confirming the 48-hour milestone on social media, Omondi thanked Kenyans for their contributions.
“We are at 5 million 665k!!! Team Sisi Kwa Sisi nyinyi ni wale waseee!!! God bless you,” he wrote.
The Four-Point Plan
During a meeting with Makokha and his father, Calistus Simiyu Makokha, Omondi outlined four commitments aimed at transforming the family’s living standards.
“The plan is very simple. We are going to build a house, we are going to ensure that our brother is treated, tunapeleka mamake hospitali and then we will ensure we put aside some money for his school,” Omondi said.
The commitments are:
- Medical care: Full financial support for testing, hospitalisation and treatment of Makokha’s skin condition in Nairobi
- Permanent housing: Construction of a new home for Makokha’s parents
- Education: Payment of school fees so Makokha can resume and complete his studies
- Retail business: Building and stocking a local shop with bread, milk, vegetables and fruit so Makokha no longer has to hawk bananas on foot
Eight Years of Illness
Makokha’s situation came to public attention after content creator Minister Zido shared a video of the teenager hawking fruit.
Makokha has lived with a painful skin condition for eight years — an illness he says he was not born with. Previous visits to local health facilities offered only temporary relief, with symptoms returning once his medication ran out.