Twenty-six members of the congregation of All Saints' Cathedral, Nairobi, last Sunday arrived after a 500-kilometre walk to raise funds to complete construction on a Kshs 100 million (US$ 1.3 million) multi-purpose hall at the Cathedral.

The walk began in the coastal city of Mombasa, and took the participants two weeks to complete. They said soaring temperatures and fatigue were their biggest challenges while walking, though thankfully, the Kenya Police and Kenya Wildlife Service provided them with protection against gangs and wild animals.

An area near Tsavo National Park is well known for lions that attack people that are not adequately protected.

Among the walkers was the Provost of the Cathedral, Rev Peter Karanja, Youth Pastor, Rev Tom Otieno, People's Warden, Maurice Marimi, and the Cathedral Administrator, Mr Ephantus Mwangi.

At hand to receive the walkers was the Anglican Church of Kenya's Archbishop, the Most Revd Benjamin Nzimbi, the Bishop of Mombasa the Rt Revd Julius Kalu, the Provincial Secretary Rt Revd William Waqo and a host of other high-ranking church officials. Archbishop Nzimbi congratulated the walkers and presented certificates to them.

The walk has raise Kshs 4.5 million (US$ 60,000) so far, and more sponsorship pledges are still streaming in.