Kenyan environmental activist Truphena Muthoni has officially broken the 72-hour tree-hugging world record, surpassing her own previous milestone of 48 hours and cementing her place in history. The 22-year-old crossed the threshold earlier today in Nyeri, drawing national admiration, global attention and an outpouring of support from leaders, activists and ordinary citizens inspired by her endurance and commitment to conservation.
Muthoni began the marathon on Monday, December 8, 2025, at exactly 12:20 p.m. outside the Nyeri governor’s office. Over the past three days, she has endured cold nights, exhaustion and long hours of stillness, all while maintaining unbroken physical contact with the tree, as required by Guinness World Records guidelines.
Her rules were harsh and intentionally symbolic: no food, no water, no breaks, and no interruptions to the embrace. As the final minutes ticked away, crowds swelled around the site, cheering her on as she pushed past the previous record into new territory.
Her tree-hugging challenge was never merely a test of physical strength. From the beginning, Muthoni framed it as a silent protest, a call for the protection of indigenous forests, recognition of indigenous communities’ role in conservation and awareness of mental-health struggles linked to environmental degradation.
At the 48-hour mark, she tied a blindfold around her eyes and hugged the tree for nearly three hours to highlight the vulnerabilities of persons living with disabilities and the often-overlooked climate injustices they face. Her message resonated widely, sparking widespread conversation online and inspiring thousands of Kenyans to recreate the challenge in solidarity.
Alongside the symbolism came a flood of national and institutional support. Political leaders, including former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, publicly encouraged her to continue, praising her resilience and framing her act as a powerful reminder of the urgency of conservation.
Nyeri County Governor Mutahi Kahiga and Deputy Governor Kinaniri Waroe personally monitored her progress, frequently checking in on her and celebrating her mental strength. Pan-African scholar PLO Lumumba made a personal trip to Nyeri to applaud her courage, while other high-profile figures visited the site, reinforcing the sense that her achievement had become a collective Kenyan moment.
Her record-breaking act has also come with an extraordinary wave of rewards and benefits, both pledged and delivered. Betting firm OdiBets promised KSh 1 million upon successful completion of the record. Adequate Safaris offered a fully paid three-night holiday in Mombasa, while Bonfire Adventures CEO Simon Kabu and his daughter extended an additional three-day coastal holiday to Muthoni and her family.
Private supporters have also shown overwhelming generosity: Damaris of Dama Spares Original pledged a Samsung Galaxy Fold 7, and philanthropist Solomon Maina committed KSh 100,000 to support the processing of her Guinness World Record documentation. Fashion brand Sir Bonnie promised to dress her for three months with custom-made suits of her choice.
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Fechi Beauty announced a premium skincare package and newly launched perfume collection to help her recover from the intense 72-hour outdoor exposure. More pledges continue to roll in as Kenyans celebrate her achievement, with corporates and individuals racing to reward her courage, creativity and patriotism.
For supporters watching on site and online, Muthoni has become a symbol of youthful power and ecological responsibility, a modern echo of the spirit embodied by the late Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai. Many have hailed her as part of a new generation of environmental leaders who combine activism, advocacy and creativity to challenge the world’s understanding of climate action.
Her decision to use endurance and symbolism to ignite national conversation has generated a wave of admiration from youth organizations, climate movements and county leaders who see her as proof that individual acts can mobilize communities.
Breaking the record at more than 72 hours, Muthoni stood firm, exhausted but triumphant, surrounded by cheers, chants and tears from supporters who had camped around her for days.
She has already announced that her campaign will not end with this world record; instead, she hopes it will continue to drive conversations around reforestation, mental wellness, participation of persons with disabilities in climate decisions and the importance of protecting Kenya’s indigenous tree species.
As Kenya celebrates this extraordinary feat, one thing is clear: Truphena Muthoni has not only set a new world record — she has awakened a nationwide movement. And long after the applause fades, the seed she planted over the past 72 hours will continue to grow.
