By James Murimi - Reporter
Kenya, 10 December 2025 - Nyeri — a county celebrated for producing global icons such as Nobel Peace Prize laureate Prof Wangari Maathai, Kenya’s third President Mwai Kibaki, and Mau Mau legends Field Marshal Muthoni Kirima and General Stanley Mathenge — is witnessing the rise of another remarkable figure.
Truphena Muthoni, the young environmentalist is attempting to set a new world record in a 72-hour tree-hugging marathon.
Muthoni, 22, from Ihwagi in Mathira Constituency, launched her endurance challenge on Monday during an event officiated by Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga and Deputy Governor David Kinaniri.
The world already recognizes her as the Guinness World Record holder for hugging a tree continuously for 48 hours.
Now, she is pushing her limits, and the world’s, with a bold attempt to extend that record to 72 hours.
Standing next to a towering indigenous tree at the Nyeri County headquarters, Muthoni said her mission is rooted in both environmental advocacy and mental wellness.
“I am a guardian of the forests and an advocate of indigenous people and trees,” she said.
“This 72-hour endurance challenge is not just about breaking my world record, it is about championing the protection of indigenous trees.”
More from Kenya
She described tree hugging as a therapeutic act, noting that environmental destruction has contributed to rising mental health challenges globally.
“We have a mental health crisis across the world that is directly linked to environmental degradation,” she said. “Victims of floods and drought often undergo trauma. Nature has healing, and I invite everyone to go back to it.”
Her mantra is simple yet powerful: “Before we plant a million trees, we must nurture a million hearts that care. We must fall in love with nature.”
At 12:25pm on Wednesday, Muthoni officially surpassed her previous 48-hour record, moving into uncharted territory as she pushes toward the 72-hour target expected to be achieved by 12:25pm on Thursday.
Governor Kahiga applauded her effort, saying Muthoni’s extraordinary feat fits naturally within Nyeri’s legacy of producing leaders, freedom fighters, and environmental champions whose influence has shaped Kenya and the world.
With her arms wrapped around a tree and her eyes set firmly on the clock, Truphena Muthoni is writing her own chapter in Nyeri’s long history of resilience, courage, and global impact.
