Twenty-eight-year-old Eric Munene from Ciambugu Village in Mbeere North Constituency, Embu County, has successfully completed a 90-hour tree hugging challenge aimed at lobbying for basic services for residents of the marginalized area.
Munene concluded the grueling mission on Monday at 11 a.m., having started Thursday at 5 p.m., in the presence of hundreds of jubilant villagers who had gathered to celebrate his feat.
Through the protest, Munene advocates for essential services including proper health facilities, tarmacked roads, reliable water supply for domestic use and irrigation, as well as electricity connectivity in the arid region. His resilience and courage have earned him accolades from both leaders and residents, who hope his sacrifice will translate into tangible development projects.
During the challenge, Munene endured harsh weather conditions, from scorching daytime heat to cold nights, hunger and extreme physical exhaustion. Upon completion, he appeared frail and was transported in an ambulance to Embu Level Five Hospital for medical evaluation.
His wife, Bancy Karimi, described her husband as a determined and persistent individual who never gives up once he commits to a goal, though she initially doubted whether he could complete the challenge. “I asked him if he would really manage all those hours up there, and he confidently told me, ‘I will do it,’” she said.
Munene’s mother, Consolata Macharia, linked her son’s protest to a family experience, noting that she had to travel many kilometres to Embu Level Five Hospital when her daughter-in-law gave birth due to the absence of a health facility in Ciambugu and the wider Nthawa area.
“The long distance and poor roads make it difficult for expectant mothers and the sick to access timely medical care. When someone falls ill here, they have to be rushed far away, and sometimes it becomes a matter of life and death,” Consolata said.
Area residents praised Munene for standing up for their needs and urged both county and national governments to turn his sacrifice into real change and sustainable development in the region.
Munene’s tree hugging protest has drawn attention to the urgent need for basic social services in Ciambugu, highlighting the challenges faced by communities in remote and underserved areas.
By Samuel Waititu
