The Kenyan who made history of being the first to climb Mount Everest, James Kagambi, has launched a book narrating his experience at the peak of the highest mountain in the world.

The 63-year-old, in his 87-page book titled The Journey to Everest, shares the preparations leading up to the 40-day climb.

He has included his determination to raise Kes10 million to help him realise his dream of becoming the first Kenyan to reach the mountain’s peak, a dizzying 8,849 metres above sea level.

Speaking during the launch of his book in Nyeri, Kagambi says that the motivation to write his first book was the avalanche of questions and the many invitations he has received locally and internationally to give talks about his expedition to Mount Everest.

“Having summited many mountains before, reaching the peak of the Everest felt like a normal thing. But upon coming down from the mountain, the number of followers and people asking me how I did it was overwhelming. I felt that I owed the people this information so I decided to write a book,” said Kagambi.

The retired teacher made history in May 2022 when he became the oldest and the first Kenyan to reach the top of Mount Everest.

He is not new to such achievements as he was among five people who made it to Mount Kenya’s point Batian, the second highest point in Africa, to hoist the Kenyan flag to mark 50 years of independence.

His other notable accomplishments include being the first black African to summit the Denali, North America’s highest mountain peak, in 1989.

In 1992, he represented Africa in the United Nations Peace Climb for the world on the Eiger, one of the world’s most famous peaks in the Swiss Alps.

He was also the first black African to summit the Aconcagua, the highest summit in the Americas, in 1994.

The book, set to be launched in Nairobi on Wednesday at the Utalii Hotel on May 24 also gives readers a glimpse into Kagambi’s career as a mountaineer after switching from teaching.

He also says he hopes to use his achievement to champion the inclusion of outdoor education for learners into the Kenyan Curriculum and the recognition of mountaineering as a sport in the country.