Last December, when Truphena Muthoni embraced one tree with her arms, she didn’t do it with the aim of seeking media coverage and public applause. Her aim was to raise awareness and seek attention where it was needed.
Guinness World Records has officially recognized that Truphena Muthoni, the Kenyan climate activist, has set a new record for the longest marathon hug with a tree, embracing one tree for 72 hours consecutively.
The challenge which took place on December 11, has seen Truphena Muthoni endure through cold and rainy nights and hard and uncomfortable days without detaching her arms from the tree, even as she sought to beat her own record of 48 hours, which she had set earlier in 2025.
Guinness World Records briefly published on the web: “Longest marathon hugging a tree — 72 hours by @truphena_muthoni.”
Muthoni’s aim was not to seek records and public applause; rather, she wanted to raise awareness on the protection of indigenous trees and remind people of the bond that exists between humans and nature.
Over time, she has spoken out against the destruction of native forests and encouraged people to protect the trees that are already around them, rather than planting new ones.
“I want people to fall in love with nature so they don’t harm it,” she said in a previous interview. “Conservation starts with love. We must first care for the trees we have.”
Her words are not limited to the conservation fraternity alone.
On December 15, President William Ruto appointed Muthoni as the ambassador of the 15 billion tree planting initiative in Kenya.
The President commended Muthoni’s determination and leadership in the initiative. In addition, the President honored Muthoni with the Head of State Commendation (HSC) Medal in recognition of her efforts in the preservation of the environment.
The President also announced that the Kenya Wildlife Service and the Kenya Tourism Board would sponsor Muthoni’s holiday with her team. Moreover, the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry would support Muthoni’s trip to Brazil to link up with the global conservation efforts.
From her tree hug in Nyeri County to her record-breaking moment, Muthoni’s story is one that turns a small act into a daring statement: that protecting nature might start with slowing down and looking around.