NAIROBI, Kenya — Environmental activist Truphena Muthoni planted a tree at State House on Monday after meeting President William Ruto, marking a symbolic moment in Kenya’s national tree-growing campaign and her elevation to a high-profile environmental role.
President Ruto appointed Muthoni an Ambassador of the 15 Billion Tree Planting Campaign, praising her as an exemplary young Kenyan whose courage and determination reflect the country’s commitment to environmental conservation and climate action.
The appointment follows Muthoni’s widely publicised 72-hour tree-hugging challenge, a symbolic act aimed at raising national and global awareness on environmental degradation and the urgency of protecting indigenous trees.
The endurance challenge, which attracted attention across Kenya and beyond, underscored the growing role of youth-led activism in shaping environmental discourse.
“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,” President Ruto said in a statement. “It was a deeply symbolic gesture aimed at raising awareness on environmental conservation and climate change.”
As part of the recognition, Muthoni planted a tree within the State House grounds, aligning her personal advocacy with the government’s flagship environmental programme that targets the planting of 15 billion trees by 2032 to restore forest cover, combat climate change, and enhance biodiversity.
In addition to her ambassadorial role, the President announced a package of incentives to support Muthoni’s conservation work. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) have jointly offered Muthoni and her team a fully sponsored holiday experience, a move the President said was intended to recognise and encourage environmental champions.
Further, the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry will facilitate Muthoni’s long-held dream of visiting Brazil, exposing her to global conservation initiatives and environmental leadership models in one of the world’s most ecologically significant regions.
“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,” President Ruto added.
The recognition places Muthoni among a growing list of young environmental advocates being elevated to national platforms as the government seeks to rally public support for its climate and sustainability agenda. The 15 Billion Tree Planting Campaign is a cornerstone of Kenya’s climate strategy, aimed at reversing decades of deforestation while creating green jobs and strengthening community livelihoods.
The campaign has been framed by the government as both an environmental and economic intervention, with officials arguing that reforestation will improve water security, support agriculture, and enhance resilience against climate shocks such as droughts and floods.
Muthoni’s activism has resonated particularly with young Kenyans, many of whom have increasingly turned to symbolic protest and social mobilisation to push environmental issues into the national conversation.
Her 72-hour challenge, though still undergoing verification by Guinness World Records, sparked widespread engagement on social media and renewed debate on the protection of indigenous trees.
While the government’s tree-planting drive has received broad support, environmental experts continue to stress the need for transparency, long-term monitoring, and a focus on survival rates rather than sheer planting numbers. They argue that sustained community involvement will be critical to the campaign’s success.
For Muthoni, the State House meeting and her appointment signal a transition from grassroots activism to national advocacy, positioning her as a key youth voice in Kenya’s environmental future.
As Kenya grapples with the impacts of climate change, the government hopes that figures like Muthoni will help galvanise public participation and ensure the ambitious tree-planting target translates into lasting ecological gains.
