'GIST cancer has shown me how few friends I have despite my great fame'

It all began with drastic weight loss, from 170 kilogrammes to around 70 kilogrammes within just three months.

Then came a change in skin complexion; it became noticeably pale. For three weeks, he was unable to pass stool, assuming it was just bloating.

Soon after, he started experiencing abdominal pain followed by swelling. He visited a chemist, where he was told it could be ulcers and was given painkillers.

During this time, he felt sidelined by family, friends, clients and even someone he had been in a long relationship with.

Things took a serious turn when he began vomiting blood and passing blood in his stool.

It was then that he decided to seek proper medical attention, four months after trying other medications that had not worked.

However, despite going through all this, he never gave up. More than a year later, he remains strong, hopeful and thankful for every hour he lives.

This is the life of Samuel Kitiki, famously known as Kitiki Sam the Barber, an award-winning barber with a deep passion for transforming people’s looks through classy haircuts.

He was once a gym enthusiast who used supplements and consumed more than four meals a day to maintain his body mass.

“It all started like a joke. I began losing weight and thought it was because of working out. At the time, I weighed around 170 kilogrammes and used a lot of supplements.

I was on creatine monohydrate, Megamas and steroids. Around October 2024, I started noticing changes in my body. I would go to the gym after work and take about five high-protein meals a day to maintain my muscle mass,” Kitiki narrates.

Body changes

He says he would take painkillers whenever he felt pain and continued with his daily routine. However, as time went by, his condition worsened. People began noticing the changes in his body, which negatively affected both his work and his relationships.

Four months later, he decided to seek medical attention. At the hospital, doctors first conducted a CT scan and informed him that something was not right. A colonoscopy and endoscopy followed, revealing tumours in his stomach. Surgery was then recommended and carried out.

“In February, I went back for the results. I was told, “Sam, we are sorry, but you have GIST cancer.” By then, it was stage 1C. 

According to the Mayo Clinic, a gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) is a type of cancer that begins in the digestive system, most commonly in the stomach or small intestine. It is believed to originate from specialised nerve cells in the walls of digestive organs.

These cells play a key role in moving food through the body. Small GISTs may not cause any symptoms and can grow slowly without noticeable problems at first. However, as they develop, they may lead to symptoms such as abdominal pain and nausea. 

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) can occur at any age, but they are more common in adults and are very rare in children. The exact cause of most GISTs remains unknown.

 I remember that day like it was yesterday. When I heard those words, it felt like cold water had been poured over my entire body. I called the person closest to me and told her about the diagnosis. She couldn’t believe it and that marked the end of that relationship,” he narrates emotionally.

He says when he shared the news with close friends, many struggled to believe it, with some urging him to seek a second opinion from another doctor.

“Things started going downhill from there. Mentally, I struggled because I was in denial. I kept thinking it was a death sentence. A lot was running through my mind at that time. It affected my work and my relationships. I began isolating myself and stopped talking to people. As my condition changed week by week, rumours started circulating that I was HIV positive,” he says.

Battled denial

He adds that he had no option but to begin treatment, even as he battled denial. Clients stopped coming, including those he had considered loyal.

“I had no idea the treatment would be this expensive. Suddenly, the friends I had were no longer there. You find yourself alone, with no one to call or talk to. It was one of the most difficult times of my life. People I thought were close to me disappeared,” Kitiki narrates.

He began chemotherapy immediately, during last year’s Gen Z demonstrations. While in a hospital bed fighting for his life, he received numerous calls informing him that he was trending on X.

“Someone came to the hospital, took a picture of me and combined it with one from when I was healthy, claiming I was spreading HIV and Aids. It went viral. I was trending at number two in the country, both in Kenya and Tanzania at the same time.”

That day was one of the lowest moments of my life. Imagine even your own family thinking you are HIV positive. I honestly contemplated suicide because I felt like I had come to the end,” he recalls.

He notes the immense power of social media, saying he was not only trending on X but across other platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Kitiki is grateful to the few people who stepped in to support him by raising funds for his treatment, noting that the little he had saved was quickly depleted.

“It was very difficult trying to convince people that I needed help, yet many believed it was not cancer but HIV and AIDS. The bullying started on my accounts: Facebook, Instagram, everywhere. People were talking. It became overwhelming and at some point, I had to be put on antidepressants,” he says.

“What stays with me the most in this journey is the day my family kicked me out, the day they wanted nothing to do with me. I remember my mother asking the doctor to confirm whether I was HIV positive. To this day, we have never spoken. I just hope they are well. But right now, I have someone very special taking care of me. She taught me that family is not just about blood, it is about those who stand by you when no one else does,” he says.

Relationship with God

He adds that the illness has changed his perspective on people, wealth and his relationship with God.

“At one point, I asked God, Where are you?” I have never taken alcohol or smoked in my life. I always tried to live right, not that I am perfect, but this experience has drawn me closer to God and helped me understand His ways. One scripture that has stayed with me says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, through prayer and supplication, present your requests to God,” he says. 

He is still undergoing treatment and hopes to regain his normal life. However, he admits he lives with uncertainty, unsure of what tomorrow may bring.

“There is always the fear that the cancer is still spreading. You don’t know whether you will wake up tomorrow or not. You don’t know if it’s your last meal or your last conversation. That is the hardest part. It is very painful. I live in the moment. It’s not easy to accept that, but I have to,” he emphasises.

On what he wishes could be done differently, he calls for greater public awareness about cancer.

“There are so many misconceptions about cancer. The more people are educated, the better it will be. I wish society understood that cancer is like any other disease and it can be treated,” he says.

“I wish the government would make treatment and medication more affordable. We also need more empathetic doctors who see patients as human beings, not just cases. There should be more facilities offering cancer care, from diagnosis to chemotherapy and stronger support groups to help patients cope with depression, anxiety and pain. Sometimes I go out in public and start vomiting blood and people look at me differently,” he adds.

“I wish there was more awareness about cancer, that people would understand it is not the end of life. Families need to know how to support their loved ones through treatment, simply by being there. That would make a huge difference to those of us battling this disease,” he says.

He reveals that he has spent close to Sh8 million on treatment. His Social Health Authority cover was exhausted within the first two months, with the rest coming from well-wishers and donations.

“The diet alone is expensive and so are the tests that come with chemotherapy. We have spent a lot and still need more. I am now considering going to India because I am not improving and that is what worries me most. I had hoped for a better response, but it hasn’t been good. I have used up my savings trying to keep things going,” he explains.

Despite his struggles, he is giving back. He invites cancer patients and children living with disabilities to visit his barbershop at the Kimson Annex building in Utawala, near Benedicta Academy, for free haircuts.

“The biggest lesson cancer has taught me is that anyone can be affected. People can leave and anyone can fall into depression and isolation; nothing in life is guaranteed. The only constant is your relationship with God; He is the one who never leaves. We should not boast about our bodies or anything, because cancer is a ruthless disease,” he concludes.