A heartfelt post by Nairobi-based barber Kitikisam the Barber has moved thousands online after he opened up about his ongoing battle with GIST cancer and the daily struggle to keep working despite worsening pain.
In the emotional message shared on social media, the barber revealed that even as the disease progresses, he still shows up to work whenever his body allows. What hurts him most, he said, is not just the physical pain but watching his client numbers slowly decline as his health challenges continue.
“I have truly given my all in this battle with cancer,” he wrote, adding that some days it feels like his best efforts are still not enough.
Barbering, according to Kitikisam, is more than a job it is his passion and source of purpose. Every shilling he earns goes directly toward his medical treatment, making each client and every haircut a lifeline in his fight for survival. However, he admitted that the journey has left him exhausted on every level: physically, mentally, and emotionally.
In a rare moment of vulnerability, the barber shared that there are times when the burden feels so heavy that he thinks about giving up. Still, he continues to push forward, drawing strength from his craft and the hope of recovery.
The post included a simple but powerful request: support. Whether by showing up for a haircut or contributing financially, any form of help, he said, would give him a fighting chance. His appeal has attracted messages of encouragement, shares, and pledges of support from well-wishers across the country.Others urged the public to rally around him, emphasizing the importance of community in moments of hardship.