Faith Mwende returns after climbing the world’s highest mountain, Mt. Everest

Faith Mwende, a Kenyan, who climbed the world's highest mountain - Everest - is back in the country.

Faith was received by her friends and family at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport after having spent over 40 days climbing the mountain. 

She said her main reason for climbing Mt Everest's Lobuche Peak (measuring 6119 metres high) was to address climate change among other issues.

She admitted facing some challenges during her climb and her plans for making a change to the environment. 

"My journey to Everest also had some challenges; the Khumbu cough that was an outbreak at the camp affected everyone including me. My cause was to raise awareness on climate change mental health and peace,” she explained.

According to her father Christopher Linge, Mwende’s passion for hiking goes back to when she was a child and she has climbed Mt Elgon, Africa’s highest mountain, Mt Kilimanjaro and Mt Kenya three times.

Linge says he was a little sceptical when she told him about her plan but nevertheless allowed her to pursue her dream.

 "When she said she wants to go out, not in Kenya, we were not happy because we thought she would get lost and little did we know that God had something for her and she managed to go out to Everest," Linge said.

The Chairman of No Summit Too High John Thiong'o commended Mwende for her commitment as he underscored the importance of her mission in the Asian region.

"She has been up there and she has seen the effect of climate change and particularly on the tallest mountain in the world. The government had to cut short the window because the weather changed drastically and they had to move from summiting to evacuations," Thiong'o noted.