Kenyan environmental activist Truphena Muthoni completed a 72-hour nonstop tree-hugging marathon Thursday, smashing her own world record and drawing applause from supporters and political leaders alike.
The 22-year-old began the challenge Monday outside the Nyeri governor’s office, wrapping her arms around an indigenous tree and refusing to let go — without food, water, sleep or bathroom breaks — until the clock hit exactly 72 hours.
Muthoni had already held the Guinness World Records title after hugging a tree for 48 hours in February. This time she more than doubled the previous global mark of just over 24 hours, set by a Ghanaian activist in 2024.
Rain poured, nights turned cold and exhaustion set in, but Muthoni stayed upright, sometimes blindfolded for extra difficulty. Fellow activists kept her spirits up with a rotating playlist of music blasting from speakers nearby.
“It’s therapeutic,” Muthoni said moments after stepping away from the tree, her voice hoarse but steady. “Mental health crises around the world are linked to environmental destruction. Hugging a tree is my way of showing we can heal by reconnecting with nature.”
Leaders rally behind the cause
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua called her “my daughter” in a public message of encouragement. “Push on,” he wrote. “Your effort reminds the world we must care for our common home.”
Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga, who launched the countdown Monday, returned Thursday with his deputy, David Kinaniri, to witness the finish. “Wow, that’s impressive,” Kahiga said as Muthoni finally released her grip.
Crowds swelled outside the county offices throughout the week, though police limited access on the final day to keep order. Online, Kenyans turned the event into a viral sensation, with some jokingly offering livestock as “dowry” for the young activist and others urging Guinness to fast-track verification.
More than a stunt
Born in Mathira sub-county, Muthoni has campaigned for forests since her teenage years as a Scout. She framed the three-day embrace as both a protest against deforestation and a call for stronger mental health support in a country losing tree cover to illegal logging and development.
Organizers say full documentation will be submitted to Guinness World Records and other certifying bodies in the coming days.
As medics checked her condition and friends enveloped her in hugs, Muthoni smiled wearily. “If even one person plants a tree because of this,” she said, “it was worth every second.”
Kenya, frequently hit by drought and flooding tied to climate change, has set ambitious national targets to increase forest cover. Activists hope Muthoni’s feat adds urgency to those efforts.
For now, the nation is celebrating a 22-year-old who turned a simple act of holding on into a loud statement about letting nature go.
