Truphena Muthoni has shown the world that determination beats bureaucracy. The 22-year-old environmentalist and forest defender revealed on Citizen TV Sunday night that she set the 72-hour tree-hugging world record in Kenya after her efforts to get government support fell flat.
Muthoni said she had applied for accreditation to attend COP 30 in Brazil, where she originally planned to break the record.
“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,” she told viewers.
Undeterred, Muthoni took on the challenge at home, hugging a tree non-stop for three days to raise awareness about forest protection and the plight of indigenous trees.
Her feat has drawn attention both locally and internationally, showing that individual passion can sometimes achieve more than institutional backing.
The activist, who also expresses herself through art and sustainable living, remains determined to inspire others to care for Kenya’s forests.