2025 in Review: Truphena Muthoni Turns a Tree Hug into a National Statement

By James Murimi - Reporter

Kenya, 22 December 2025 - In a year when Kenya faced climate extremes - from unpredictable rainfall and prolonged droughts to flash floods and shrinking forests - one act of determination stood out: a young woman hugging a tree for 72 hours.

Truphena Muthoni, a 22-year-old climate activist from Ihwagi, Mathira Constituency in Nyeri County, transformed her personal mission into a national movement in 2025.

Her marathon tree hug broke her own Guinness World Record of 48 hours, earned her appointment as an Ambassador of Kenya’s 15 Billion Tree Planting Campaign, and brought her the prestigious Head of State Commendation (HSC) Medal from President William Ruto.

President Ruto praised her during a State House ceremony, noting, “Her courage, resilience, and leadership embody the very best of our nation’s spirit. She has sent a powerful message about the urgency of environmental conservation and climate action.”

As the year ends, Kenya can reflect on 2025 as a year of environmental awakening. — Truphena Muthoni when she was invited by President William Ruto at State House, Nairobi | PCS

Her success continues to get recognition. On 22 December 2025, Environment Institute of Kenya (EIK) congratulated Muthoni for achieving the outstanding 72-hour tree-hugging world record.

"Your resilience, discipline, and commitment to environmental conservation and mental health advocacy reflect exemplary leadership," EIK posted on X.

"This remarkable milestone inspires communities and strengthens the call for sustainable environmental stewardship across Kenya and beyond."

Muthoni’s journey, however, was not without setbacks. She had originally planned to stage the record-breaking challenge in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest during the COP30 Climate Conference, standing beneath a Samuma tree in solidarity with the Quilombolas, an indigenous community defending their forest homeland.

The plan was meant to amplify voices of forest-dependent communities worldwide, connecting Kenya’s Yaaku community with their Brazilian counterparts.

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“This record was supposed to happen in Brazil during COP30,” Muthoni said. “It was a chance to stand in solidarity with the Quilombolas and represent indigenous people from Kenya. But bureaucracy and unfair treatment denied me that opportunity.”

Undeterred, she redirected her mission locally. On December 8, at exactly 12:25pm, she pitched a tent outside the Nyeri County Governor’s office and embraced an indigenous tree for three days, enduring rain, scorching heat, cold nights, and going without food, water, or sleep.

What began as a solitary act quickly captured the public’s imagination, drawing environmentalists, local residents, and national media to witness a young activist redefining climate action.

By 11 December, she had surpassed 72 hours, cementing her place in global environmental history.

“I am telling people that we must come back to nature,” she said during the marathon. “Conservation begins with love. We must nurture a million people who care before we plant a million trees.”

In 2025, Muthoni’s feat became more than a record.

It became a symbol of youth-led climate action, demonstrating that even in the face of bureaucratic hurdles and institutional delays, individuals can spark national conversations on conservation.

Her work was recognised by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and Tourism Board of Kenya (TBK) with a fully sponsored holiday, while the Ministry of Environment promised to support her dream of visiting Brazil to broaden her conservation knowledge.

As the year ends, Kenya can reflect on 2025 as a year of environmental awakening - where a single tree hug by a determined young activist became a rallying point, inspiring the nation to act, reconnect with nature, and take tangible steps toward protecting the country’s forests and communities.