By John Mutiso
22-year-old world record holder Truphena Muthoni on Monday, December 8, launched a 72-hour tree-hugging marathon in Nyeri.
According to Muthoni, the mission is aimed at breaking her own record while raising awareness on the protection of indigenous forests.
“My name is Truphena Muthoni. I am a guardian of the forests, an advocate of indigenous peoples and trees, and a world record holder for the longest marathon hugging a tree.
“I’m here in Nyeri at the Office of the Governor for a groundbreaking 72 hours of environmental endurance to break my own world record and also to advocate for the protection of indigenous trees,” she said.
Muthoni stated that her choice of action goes beyond symbolism, noting its therapeutic value and global relevance.
“The reason for hugging trees is that it’s therapeutic, and we have a lot of mental health crises across the world that are directly involved with environmental degradation,” she added
Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga commended her determination, highlighting the message her endurance sends to young people and the broader public.
“It’s not easy standing here hugging a tree for the last 24 hours, and it’s not going to be easy standing for 72 hours, but the message we should get is that everything is possible if we remain focused.
“I want to speak to the youth and remind them that she is only 22; think about her if she is going to live to 80. How many things will she do that will put her all over the map of the world?,” he posed.
On February 1, 2025, Muthoni set a new 48-hour world record for the longest time spent hugging a tree.
The feat, achieved at John Michuki Memorial Park in Nairobi, earned her recognition from the Guinness World Records team and instantly positioned her as one of the most visible young environmental advocates in the country.
Muthoni said her record was not simply about endurance, but about drawing attention to the urgent need for environmental conservation.
She added that her motivation stemmed from a combination of environmental activism and personal healing.
She described tree-hugging as a powerful mental-health tool that provided her comfort during difficult periods.
“I want to encourage people to embrace tree hugging because it helps boost mental health and allows us to recharge ourselves.
“Urban development is destroying natural resources, so I want people to reconnect with nature because it has real healing power. As a mental health survivor, I found peace and healing in nature,” she said.
Muthoni’s preparation for the event was intense; she trained for months, adjusting her eating, sleeping, and movement routines to withstand long hours without rest.
At the park, she endured heat, cold, mosquitoes, and physical exhaustion but remained committed to finishing the challenge.
“I have trained myself to stand for long hours, go without food, and even fast for extended periods. Sometimes, I would have just one meal a day.
“I have also conditioned my body to go without using the toilet for 48 hours. I know it’s all in the mind,” she explained at the time.
