Environmental advocate Truphena Muthoni on Sunday said her activism is driven by inspiration from global and Kenyan figures rather than the pursuit of awards.
Speaking during an appearance on Citizen TV, Muthoni cited Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai and climate campaigner Greta Thunberg as influences shaping her approach to environmental action and policy engagement.
Muthoni has gained national attention for her environmental advocacy, which aligns with Kenya’s long-standing environmental movement championed by the late Wangari Maathai.
Maathai, founder of the Green Belt Movement and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, remains a reference point in Kenyan conservation and civic action. Muthoni placed her work within this broader legacy during the interview.
During the programme, Muthoni said she had studied Maathai’s life and work and views her legacy as an ongoing movement.
“She is still a movement even when she is not around and we feel her spirit so strongly and that is why we are able to act accordingly,” Muthoni said. She added that Maathai’s example continues to guide how environmental advocates organise and pursue change.
Muthoni also addressed speculation about global recognition, saying accolades are not her motivation.
“If I won a Nobel Peace Prize, that would be great, but it is not what inspires me to act,” she said. According to Muthoni, her focus remains on practical action and influencing policy outcomes related to environmental protection.
She further referenced Greta Thunberg, noting the role of intergenerational leadership in climate advocacy.
“Greta Thunberg inspires me,” Muthoni said, adding that she values seeing “both young and old people being able to inspire change and to influence policies.”