State Department for Environmental & Climate Change Principal Secretary Festus Ng’eno has met Truphena Muthoni following her 72-hour tree-hugging marathon.
In a statement on Monday, December 15, Ng’eno said Muthoni was awarded a national honour after a recommendation from his office.
“Following our recommendation, His Excellency the President William Ruto conferred to Truphena Muthoni, The Head of State Commendation (HSC) this morning at State House, Nairobi,” the statement read.
Ng’eno noted that after the ceremony, he hosted Muthoni to discuss how the Ministry can support and integrate her work within national climate frameworks.
“Later on I hosted Truphena in my office to discuss how the Ministry can work with her through mentorship, mainstreaming her work through The National Climate Action Plan( 2023 – 2027) which has a stand alone pillar on youth and children,” the statement added.
Ng’eno also said the Ministry would implement a presidential directive to support Muthoni’s planned visit to Brazil.
“In line with the President’s directive to support her visit to Brazil, the Ministry will work closely with her to realize this dream which will broaden her exposure to global conservation initiatives and environmental leadership,” the statement further read.
Ng’eno concluded by congratulating Muthoni for her role in raising awareness on environmental conservation and climate change both locally and internationally.
“Finally, I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate her for raising awareness on environmental conservation and climate change nationally, globally and for the Presidential honour,” he concluded.
This comes barely a day after Muthoni accused the Ministry of Environment of failing to support her during her 72-hour tree-hugging marathon.
In an interview on Sunday, December 14, Muthoni said she sought different forms of support from the ministry while preparing for and undertaking the marathon but none was provided.
“When I was trying to achieve what I have already achieved, I did not get any support. I had requested support in different ways, but I did not get support from the Ministry of Environment. I requested accreditation support to go to COP 30, but I didn’t get it,” she said.
Muthoni shared details about her personal background and questioned the government’s environmental priorities, while acknowledging support from the Nyeri County government.
“I am in college, I am studying music. My ambition is to represent voices that are underrepresented. The government’s plan to plant 15 billion trees sounds overambitious; it depends on the motivation.
“We should see that planting trees is important, but also if the government is pushing the directive of planting 15 billion trees, if it were real to me, I feel like we should not have issues of cutting down Karura Forest. I have not had support from the national government, but I have had support from the county government of Nyeri,” she further said.
Muthoni explained that although government backing was absent, her family played a key role in encouraging her, and she relied on intense mental and physical preparation to complete the challenge.
“My family is supportive, they are proud. Mostly it is mental exercise, I do physical exercises. I walk for 42km nonstop. I do many tree hugs, before I did this 72 hours, I had done 35 hours during Mazingira Day and I did 60 hours later on during a scouts’ camp.
“I do fasting. During the hugging, I was not taking water, but during the practice, I was taking a lot of water to prepare for those 3 days. I never had the urge to go to the bathroom, I control it from my mind,” she added.
However, in the wake of the accusations, President William Ruto appointed Truphena Muthoni as an Ambassador of the 15 Billion Tree Planting Campaign.
The Head of State appointed Muthoni to the role after meeting her at State House, Nairobi on Monday, 15.
Ruto described the environmental activist as an exemplary young Kenyan whose dedication and determination embody the very best of our nation’s spirit.
“In recognition of her courage, fortitude, and laudable leadership, I have appointed her as an Ambassador of the 15 Billion Tree Planting Campaign, a signature national initiative dedicated to securing Kenya’s environmental future,” he stated.
Ruto also said that, in appreciation of Muthoni’s successful completion of the 72-hour tree-hugging challenge, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) have offered her and her team a fully sponsored holiday experience.
Ruto said the Ministry of Environment will support Muthoni in her dream to visit Brazil.
“In addition, the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry will support the realization of her dream to visit Brazil, broadening her exposure to global conservation initiatives and environmental leadership,” he added.
