Truphena Muthoni, 22, spent three continuous days holding onto a tree to raise awareness about the destruction of forests and the need for peaceful environmental activism.
Her achievement has now set a new Guinness World Record—surpassing her earlier personal record of 48 hours.
According to Truphena, the idea of pushing her limits came after reading inspiring stories online about individuals using unusual but peaceful ways to speak up for nature.
She said the creativity in those stories motivated her to find a unique voice of her own.
Truphena began her challenge on December 8, 2025, early in the morning at the Nyeri Governor’s office compound.
For 72 hours, she neither slept nor ate. She stood calmly with her arms around the tree, drawing strength from passersby who stopped to cheer her on.
She described her protest as a silent message, explaining that noisy demonstrations sometimes lose meaning when violence or politics take over.
Holding a tree, she said, reminds people of their shared responsibility toward the environment. It is a gesture that cuts across age, tribe, gender, or political differences.
According to her, the act of hugging a tree is also emotionally healing. She noted that spending long hours in nature helps calm the mind and reconnect the heart with the environment many people take for granted.
Her record-breaking attempt attracted attention from leaders across the country.
Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga, who encouraged her to pursue the challenge, officially flagged off the event.
Pan-African scholar PLO Lumumba travelled to Nyeri on the second day to offer his support, praising her courage and discipline.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua also congratulated her through his social media pages.
Throughout the three days, locals formed a crowd around the site, offering emotional encouragement.
Some prayed, others clapped, while many simply stood quietly to witness what they described as an act of rare determination.
Journalists, bloggers, and major media houses later picked up the story—many acknowledging that earlier grassroots stories, including community write-ups online, helped shine a wider spotlight on Truphena’s mission.
As the challenge gained popularity, Kenyans from different corners stepped forward with gifts to celebrate her dedication. These included:
A Ksh1 million reward promised by a betting company
Ksh100,000 from an individual to cover Guinness World Records filing fees
A brand-new Samsung Galaxy Fold 7 from a phone store
A skincare and perfume package from a beauty shop
A designer’s offer of three months of custom-made outfits
A three-day fully paid coastal holiday for her and her guardian
These tokens came as appreciation for her resilience and the strong message of conservation she delivered through her peaceful approach.
With her 72-hour milestone now confirmed, Truphena officially holds the Guinness World Record for the longest time spent hugging a tree.
The Guinness World Records organisation will grant her a formal certificate and global recognition.
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