By S, KNA
Environmental activist Truphena Muthoni has promised to continue in her march towards an ecologically healthy world.
The 22-year-old conservator defied critics after inscribing her name into the Guinness World Record (GWR) on Monday for hugging an American ash tree for 72 hours on stretch.
While reacting to the achievement, Muthoni who hails from Mathira in Nyeri says environmental conservation is not only for the country but the world at large adding that the survival for future generations will depend on how well those alive protect the environment and conserve the ecosystem.
“I am going to continue working on this (environmental conservation) line. We have other upcoming projects, Guinness mass action that we are going to unveil so get updated. And I am so happy about this (GWR). It means a lot for Kenyans, for Africa and for environmental conservation for the whole world,” she stated through a post on Mohoro News Hub.
Through a post on its website, GWR officially endorsed Muthoni as the world record holder for the record which she broke on December 11 last year at exactly 12:25 pm.
Muthoni had previously set another record on February 2 last year when she hugged an indigenous tree for 48 hours and 22 minutes at the Michuki Memorial Park in Nairobi.
The only other person who had attempted a similar feat was Ghana’s Abdul Hakim Awal who hugged a tree for 24 hours in Kumasi on May 23 the same year.
In her acceptance speech, the campaigner expressed her heartfelt gratitude to all who made her march to global stardom a reality.
She also thanked the media for having kept the world informed about the unfolding events right from the day she went for the challenge from December 8 to December 11 last year.
“I am excited. I am so happy even the messaging around the win. It’s for the planet, it’s for the people. I am so happy for the people of Kenya. They have always supported me since I started. I wanted to thank the media, the office of the Governor, the cheering squad and all the people who supported me including the Red Cross services for being there for medical attention,” an elated Muthoni said.
While ratifying Muthoni’s record on Monday, the GWR noted that the environmental activist had earlier on achieved another record last year after hugging a tree for 48 hours on stretch.
“The longest marathon hugging a tree is 72 hours and was achieved by Truphena Muthoni (Kenya) in Nairobi, Kenya, from 8 to 11 December 2025.Truphena had previously achieved this record with a time of 48 hours, set earlier in 2025.” read the post on GWR website.
“She told GWR that she took on this latest attempt to “elevate and advocate for the protection of indigenous trees and to honour the wisdom of Indigenous Peoples, whose knowledge systems remain central to global climate solutions. She hopes to inspire people to fall in love with nature so that conservation work emerges from passion rather than instruction.”
The environmentalist had previously set another record on February 2 this year when she broke another record at the Michuki Memorial Park Nairobi when she hugged a tree for 48 hours and 22 minutes.
Muthoni has stated that one of the reasons for having embarked on tree hugging challenge is to sensitise the world on the need to conserve indigenous forests which she says are on the verge of extinction due to rampant logging.
She warns that environmental degradation has contributed a great deal to an increase in mental health challenges in many countries and therefore the need to continue fighting for their preservation.
“I am a guardian of the forest and an advocate of indigenous people. I am here in Nyeri at the office of the Governor to break 72 hours meant to break my own world record. The reason for hugging trees is therapeutically because we have many mental health issues in the world that are directly linked with environmental degradation. I am inviting everyone to go back to nature because it has a healing effect. I believe before we plant a million trees we have a million hurting hearts that need to be nurtured,” she told the press a few hours before she finished her challenge.
On December 15 last year, Muthoni’s star continued to shine brighter after President Dr William Ruto conferred her with the Head of State Commendation(HSC) following her record breaking feat.
Dr Ruto similarly appointed the activist to be Kenya’s Ambassador of the 15 billion tree planting campaign for the country, a key signature rallying call by the government in curbing the ravages of climate change.
This recognition aligns directly with Kenya’s Mission 15B(JazaMiti) initiative – a presidential campaign launched to plant 15 billion trees and restore degraded landscapes by 2032.
The President lauded the climate heroine for her ambition in safeguarding the environment through raising awareness on the need to protect indigenous trees in the country and affirmed the government’s support in her pursuit to that end.
“I had the pleasure of engaging with her in my office following her remarkable and record-breaking act of spending 72 continuous hours embracing an indigenous tree; a deeply symbolic gesture aimed at raising national and global awareness on environmental conservation and climate change,” stated the Head of State when he met Muthoni at State House.
“As a mark of national honour for her exemplary service to environmental stewardship, I have conferred upon Truphena Muthoni the Head of State Commendation (HSC) Medal.Truphena Muthoni is an exemplary young Kenyan whose dedication and determination embody the very best of our nation’s spirit.”
