Here’s a plan for anyone who might find themselves in Nairobi on Friday, November 29: Head to the Kenya National Archives building for a hug.
Yes, a hug. What for, you ask? A Kenyan content creator is asking as many Kenyans as possible to turn up because he has been given the go-ahead to attempt an entry into the Guinness World Records for the highest number of hugs given in a 24-hour period.
George Achoka, also known as Reality Choks, plans to give 15,000 hugs between 7am on November 29 and 7am the following day. His aim is to break the record of 9,227 hugs held by an American.
According to Guinness World Records, that man is Jeffrey Ondash, who set the record on February 17, 2013.
“The most hugs given in 24 hours is 9,277, and was achieved by Jeffrey Ondash (USA) at Ballys Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, on 16-17 February 2013,” writes the records custodian. “Jeffrey attempted this record as a fundraiser and for awareness for the American Heart Association. He also wanted to take back his previous record from 2010.”
Achoka wants to hug his way into the book and push Ondash away. He says he will be a record holder if he gets just one more than Ondash, but he wants to go for 15,000.
"I mean, we love each other and we can do it," he said.
What are the rules? The organisers say you have to be over 16 to take part. Achoka told the Nation that the other rules are that for it to be a hug, your hands must meet on the back of the person you are hugging. There must also be a timer running non-stop for the duration of the record attempt and the whole activity must be live-streamed online.
When we asked him what qualifies as a hug, he replied: “According to Guinness World Records, you are not supposed to hug someone as if you’re hugging a hot sufuria. Like, both hands must embrace.”
Achoka became a sensation during the anti-government protests that began in June for the spectacle he created by giving out free hugs.
“What showed us that we can do this was the maandamano time where we hugged over 1,000 people within three hours. It was not mobilised; it was not planned. So, I don’t need to plan. Even if this thing happens tomorrow, if you say we meet at Archives tomorrow, I am ready. The only thing I need maybe are the funds and to mobilise the 15,000 people. I am ready,” said Achoka.
Oh, and the people being hugged need not be of one gender only.
“I think this is the time to clear those suspicions that that is a man who loves only women. A hug is a hug. Even according to their rules, a hug is a hug,” asserted Achoka.
To make it a success, Achoka plans to involve the police. He will also have a team of medical practitioners.
“I will have my own medical practitioners to tell me what to put in place; something like putting on a facemask. Maybe that is the only thing I would advise people to come with, because there will be many people,” said Achoka.
For Achoka, it will not be a marathon. He plans to take regular breaks. For Rose, very short breaks were allowed.
“There will be few breaks, like for 10 or 20 minutes. The thing with this one is that it isn’t a marathon with limited breaks. So, you decide yourself. So, after every four hours, we’ll be going to take a shower a bit and spray ourselves so that we smell good. We also eat a bit then get back,” said Achoka.
Apart from the record chase, Achoka said the other intention was therapy.
“Actually, this is the main reason we are planning for this thing. It is not even for breaking the record but for this therapy, because the comments were many. Even on the day I applied, I wanted to do this on October [10], which is the World Mental Health Day. It is the day they [Guinness World Records] accepted this application, because they accepted it quickly. But because of time, we couldn’t do it then. So, the whole point is for people to come together for a therapy session. The year has been so tough to most of us, so let’s come and release some stress,” said Achoka.
“I’m looking at maybe two queues so that it is quicker. One line will be too long. Also, security will ensure that when we are in town, nobody is mugged and such,” said Achoka. “The goal is to hug 15,000 people within 24 hours.”
