Truphena Muthoni. Photo: Courtesy
Environmental activist Truphena Muthoni on Sunday turned heads during a Citizen TV appearance after boldly explaining why she prefers hugging trees to planting them.
The 22-year-old, who introduced herself as “Treephena,” said she is a defender of forests, indigenous trees, and indigenous communities.
Muthoni revealed that she has planted many trees in the past but felt the message of conservation was being lost.
She said tree hugging was her way of sending a stronger signal about the urgent need to protect what already exists.
“We are always told to plant trees, but we are losing forests faster than we can replace them,” she said. According to Muthoni, focusing only on planting ignores the destruction happening in real time across the country.
Her comments come at a time when Kenya is grappling with deforestation, climate change, and pressure on natural ecosystems.
Muthoni said her approach is meant to spark conversation, especially among young people.
By hugging trees, she hopes to shift attention from publicity-driven planting exercises to long-term protection of Kenya’s remaining forests.