22-Year-Old Activist Truphena Muthoni Sets Out to Hug Tree for 72 Hours in Deforestation Protest

Environmental campaigner Truphena Muthoni, 22, is attempting to break her own Guinness World Record by hugging a tree for 72 hours in a protest against deforestation. 

The event, which began on 8 December, is taking place in Nyeri, Kenya, with the aim of highlighting the need for stronger protection of forests and wildlife. Muthoni previously set the Guinness World Record for tree-hugging after completing a 48-hour vigil at Nairobi’s Michuki Park earlier this year. 

She hopes to surpass that achievement during this latest protest, which has been formally supported by Nyeri County Governor Mutahi Kahiga. The protest, which Muthoni describes as a "silent" form of activism, aims to transcend political divisions and appeal to human compassion. 

She views her method as a way to engage people without the disruptions often associated with traditional demonstrations. According to Muthoni, the act of hugging a tree is a way to forge a spiritual connection with nature and remind people of their responsibility to protect the environment.

The activist has undergone rigorous training, refraining from food and sleep during the protest. She stresses that the mental and physical discipline involved is integral to the message, symbolising resilience in the face of environmental destruction. 

Muthoni also finds personal therapeutic value in the act, which she believes highlights the emotional and psychological connection between humans and nature. Originally, Muthoni intended to stage her protest in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest, a globally recognised site of environmental concern. 

However, due to bureaucratic issues in the Ministry of Environment, she was unable to travel there and opted to hold the protest in Kenya instead. Despite this setback, Muthoni has framed the change of location as an opportunity to focus on local conservation issues in Kenya.

As part of her broader message of inclusivity, Muthoni has pledged to dedicate the final part of her protest to people with disabilities. After surpassing the 48-hour mark, she plans to spend three hours blindfolded, symbolising the vulnerability of the visually impaired to the impacts of climate change.