Bring Zack Back Home
Bring Zack Back Home is a fund-raising initiative that aims to raise 250 million Kenyan shillings (approximately USD 3 million) to build a spinal injury treatment center in Kenya that can accommodate up to 75,000 spinal injury victims. The name highlights Zack Kimotho, the face of the campaign, who is paralysed from the waist down and has to travel 4000 kilometers to South Africa on a wheelchair because it contains the nearest spinal treatment center. This initiative was launched by the local charity Kenyan Paraplegic Organization (KPO) which works to help people living with serious spinal cord injuries in Kenya. The initiative is backed by Safaricom Limited together with the mainstream media among other stakeholders.
Early life of Zack
Zackary Kimotho was born in 1968 in Kigumo division of Murang'a District. He attended Karinga primary school. He attended Nyeri High School for his Ordinary level education until 1988. He later joined Nakuru high school in the same year for his Advanced level education. As it was required by law, he joined the National Youth Service in June 1988 to serve the community before he could proceed to university. In January 4, 1994, Zack graduated from the University of Nairobi having attained a Bachelors degree in veterinary medicine. In 2000, he married Doris Wawira and they later gave birth to their first son Daniel. In 2003, Zack's wife died and he also lost his job. A year later in 2004, an armed man approached Zack as he drove near the Nairobi-Nakuru highway junction, and he was shot at close range during a car jacking.
First phase
The first phase of the initiative ended on 17 August 2012 after Zack covered 115 kilometers. This phase raised 73 million shillings (approximately USD 860 000) which was used to acquire a 12-acre piece of land at Kiserian in Nairobi on which the spinal injury treatment center shall be built. The groundbreaking ceremony to start the project took place on 12 September 2012. The donors who were donating one shilling a day via their mobile phones contributed over 500,000 shillings (approximately USD 5900) while those who were contributing two and five shillings managed to raise over 100,000 shillings (approximately USD 1100). The rest of the money was raised by corporates and other well wishers. The first phase of the campaign ended after the expiry of the fund raising license.