By Faith Anene
A Bungoma journalist has appealed to well-wishers, friends, colleagues in the media industry and members of the public to help him raise Sh3 million for a kidney transplant as he battles kidney failure.
Nelson Musungu, a Bungoma-based journalist, said he was diagnosed with kidney failure in March 2026 and has since undergone treatment and medical assessments at several health facilities.
Musungu, who has worked with several media outlets, including the Kenya News Agency (KNA), County Splash and West Media Limited, said the condition had taken a toll on his health and finances, forcing him to seek assistance to meet the cost of treatment.
He is accredited by the Media Council of Kenya and covers politics, agriculture, health and education.
Speaking to the press at his home in Kimilili, Musungu said he had sought treatment at Aga Khan Hospital Kisumu, Bungoma County Referral Hospital, Bungoma West Sub-County Hospital, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret and Hopkins Referral Hospital.
He is currently dependent on dialysis, which he undergoes twice a week at a facility in Bungoma town.
“This disease is a menace. It needs financial muscles. It is a disease that you cannot wish your enemy to suffer from,” he said.
Musungu said his condition had continued to deteriorate, prompting doctors to recommend a kidney transplant, which he hopes to undergo at MTRH in Eldoret on September 29, 2026, subject to completion of the required medical procedures and donor compatibility assessments.
He appealed to well-wishers to help his family raise the Sh3 million required for the transplant and related medical expenses.
“Three million is an amount beyond what a single family can be able to raise. I am here appealing to good-hearted colleagues in the media space, churches, politicians and friends to intervene so that I can raise this amount to help me undergo a successful kidney transplant,” Musungu said.
“I am calling on churches and other well-wishers who are touched by my plea to come in and assist me,” he added.
Musungu said although the Social Health Authority (SHA) helps settle the cost of his dialysis sessions, he continues to incur expenses for transport, medication and other treatment-related needs.
He said each dialysis session costs Sh10,650 and that he undergoes two sessions every week.
“Besides the Sh10,650 for dialysis, there are also many other things that need to be settled in between. During dialysis, there are a lot of medicines that are administered and they are very expensive,” he said.
Musungu said he currently takes more than 10 types of medication as part of his treatment and has also developed anaemia and general body weakness.
“This condition also comes with some challenges like anaemia and general body weakness,” he said.
The journalist said travelling between health facilities and from his home in Kimilili to Bungoma town had become another financial burden.
“Dialysis sessions are administered twice a week at a cost of Sh10,650 per visit, translating to Sh21,300, which SHA settles. But the most difficult part is transportation from one facility to the other and from my Kimilili home to these facilities,” he said.
Musungu said his family had identified two potential kidney donors as they sought to make the transplant possible.
The first potential donor, his brother, was found to be incompatible with him after undergoing the required medical tests.
“My brother was blood group B positive and I am A positive, therefore the compatibility test could not add up,” he said.
The family has since identified another potential donor who is blood group A positive. Musungu said they were awaiting completion of further medical tests to establish whether the donor is medically suitable.
“We have looked for another donor who is blood A positive and we are hoping that the test will be through in due course,” he said.
The family will hold a fundraising event at their home in Kimilili on September 26, 2026, as part of efforts to raise the money required for the transplant.
Those wishing to support Musungu can send contributions through M-Pesa number 0742371448.
