NAIROBI, Kenya — In December last year, 22-year-old Truphena Muthoni captured national and international attention after hugging a tree for 72 consecutive hours in a striking act of environmental activism.
The moment turned her into a household name. But few people knew it was not her first attempt.
Earlier in February, Muthoni had hugged a tree for 48 hours at John Michuki Memorial Park in Nairobi. While she went on to complete 72 hours later in the year, Guinness World Records officially recognised only the initial 48-hour mark, prompting her to mount a second attempt.
That effort was ratified on January 26.
Guinness World Records described her as a “passionate environmental activist from Kenya sending a strong message about protecting the Earth after hugging a tree for three whole days.”
Beyond the record, Muthoni’s activism is carefully layered with symbolism. Her brightly coloured hair — widely discussed on social media — is part of her environmental message. She says the materials used are non-synthetic, meant to promote sustainable lifestyles and draw attention to the environmental harm caused by many synthetic hair products.
Each colour carries meaning. Black represents African power and resilience. Red symbolises indigenous resistance and courage. Blue stands for water protectors and ocean defenders. Green reflects reforestation, regeneration and hope.
“I’ve had the green colour since 2022. The others came last year. It’s a style I love, not just a brand,” she said.
On her personal life, Muthoni is candid. She says she is not dating and has chosen to focus fully on her goals.
“I’ve never dated, and I’m not dating,” she said. “I’m sacrificing that part of my life for clarity and to focus on my dreams.”
After long days working on her projects, she unwinds simply. Her favourite meal is fish and rice.
Muthoni is already planning her next environmental actions. In May and June, she intends to lead two ambitious, record-breaking initiatives alongside partners and volunteers.
On World Turtle Day, marked on May 26, she plans to spearhead a mass mangrove planting exercise in Kwale County, targeting the planting of 1.2 million mangroves in one hour.
“Plans for this event are in high gear, but it will be a collective action,” she said. “There will be other people and organisations participating.”
The initiative will involve the Kwale County Government, the Kenya Forest Service, and the Kenya Scouts Association, among others.
Mangroves play a critical role in supporting turtle populations. Their ecosystems provide rich feeding grounds, hosting algae, crustaceans, and small invertebrates consumed by species such as green turtles and juvenile hawksbills. The shallow waters also allow young turtles to forage efficiently while reducing exposure to predators.
Days later, on June 6, Muthoni plans another ambitious feat: mobilising efforts to plant one billion trees in 24 hours. The initiative is aligned with Kenya’s national target of planting 32 billion trees by 2032.
Her broader goal, she says, is cultural change.
“I want to build a lasting culture of environmental stewardship driven by passion rather than policy,” she said.
“I want to bring people together through love, so conserving our planet comes from a place of care, not force or destruction.”
Muthoni says the tree-hugging challenge was inspired by her personal connection to nature, which she describes as grounding and therapeutic. Her second record attempt, she added, was largely motivated by the desire to give greater visibility to environmental conservation.
She does not point to a single role model, saying her inspiration shifts at different stages of her life.
Outside activism, she enjoys creating music and playing the guitar, sometimes performing at small events in Nairobi.
Before gaining global recognition, Muthoni had already achieved notable milestones. In 2022, she addressed the Major Group for Children and Youth, a United Nations platform for youth participation in global policy discussions. She has also spoken at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Following her record-breaking achievement, she received a sponsorship from Mount Kenya University, where she is pursuing a degree in International Relations — a course she says will strengthen her global advocacy work.
