Environmentalist Truphena Muthoni’s 72-hour tree hugging feat has officially been ratified by the Guinness World Record (GWR).
Through a post on the GWR website, Muthoni has now been endorsed as the world record holder for the record which she broke on December 11 last year at exactly 12:25 pm.
On that day, she moved one step closer into etching her name on the global scene after hugging an American ash tree outside the Nyeri Governor’s office for 72 hours on stretch.
She 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.
While ratifying Muthoni’s record, 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 honor 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.”
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 22-year-old 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.”
And as a show of the Government’s commitment in making Muthoni’s dream of visiting Brazil come true, the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry announced it will sponsor her for a trip to the Southern American nation that hosted the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 2025) in November last year.
The environmental enthusiast had intended to attend the global meet but could not make it due to logistical challenges.
In addition, the Kenya Wildlife Service and the Kenya Tourism Board have also promised to pay for a fully paid holiday to the environmentalist as an appreciation for her exemplary record shattering feat.
“In further appreciation of her inspiring efforts, the Kenya Wildlife Service and the Kenya Tourism Board have extended to her and her team a fully sponsored holiday experience.
In addition, the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry will support the realization of her dream to visit Brazil, broadening her exposure to global conservation initiatives and environmental leadership.” added the President.
Muthoni who has now become a global celebrity says one of the reasons for embarking on tree hugging challenge is to sensitize the world on the need to conserve indigenous forests which she says are on the verge of extinction due to rampant logging.
She also warned 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 therapeutical 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 breaking her own record last year.
By Samuel Maina
