Longest ‘tree hug’ record: Truphena endures harsh weather as she attempts feat
She claims she was meant to be in Brazil for a 72-hour tree-hugging marathon, but broken promises kept her away.
Instead, 22-year-old environmentalist Truphena Muthoni from Mathira constituency has turned the Nyeri Governor’s office compound into her world stage.
Here, she is attempting to break her own record, stretching her previous 48-hour tree hug to 72 hours.
“I am a defender of forests and a world-record holder for the longest tree hug. I also defend the rights of indigenous trees, people, and animals. This is a peaceful form of protest meant to urge our leaders to respond to pertinent environmental issues,” she says, arms wrapped firmly around an ornamental indigenous tree.
In February 2025, Truphena also attempted to break the Guinness World Record for the longest tree-hugging marathon, holding on for 48 hours straight from January 31 to February 2 at Michuki Park in Nairobi.
The record initially belonged to Ghana’s Abdul Hakim Awal, who hugged a tree for 24 hours, 21 minutes and 4 seconds in Kumasi on May 23, 2024.
The music and culture student says she had been slated to attend the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 30) in Belem, Brazil from November 10 to 21, 2025 but this never came to be.
“After my 48-hour tree-hugging marathon, government officials made many promises, including supporting me to attend COP 30 in Brazil, but none were fulfilled,” she says, adding:
“I went from office to office seeking help, trying to obtain an accreditation that would secure me a badge from the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, but I was just taken in circles.”
With time running out, she turned to Governor Mutahi Kahiga, who offered the county office compound as the venue for her attempt.
Truphena has since applied for the ‘Longest marathon hugging a tree’ category on the Guinness World Records website.
The requirements are stringent: an HD camera must film her continuously for all 72 hours, and her hands must remain visible at all times.
“I cannot sit down, and if I move around the tree, my hands must remain visible to show I am still hugging it. Many organisations are watching, including my evaluators from Guinness World Records,” she says.
Alongside her online evaluators, she has in-person witnesses present throughout the attempt. Each must submit an individual statement to Guinness as part of the evidence.
“The witnesses don’t know each other. I am the only one who knows them because I submitted their names during my application. This is meant to ensure objective feedback,” she explains.
Because the challenge is personal, she cannot involve family members or politicians, as it would undermine her cause.
During the attempt, nobody is allowed to touch her or her clothing, as evaluators would interpret this as emotional or physical support, disqualifying her efforts.
To earn the title, she must endure hunger, fatigue and harsh weather, relying only on her own resilience for the full three days.
“The only support I am allowed from the public is their encouragement. They can cheer me on, medics can monitor my health, security officers can keep me safe, and the media can help amplify my voice,” she says.
After breaking the 48-hour record on Wednesday at 12.25pm, she is expected to hit the 72-hour mark on Thursday same time.
Truphena says this attempt has been easier than her first. The biggest mistake during her previous marathon, she recalls, was starting without drinking enough water, a lesson she now considers crucial.
“I needed to hydrate a lot before the challenge. It makes this easier; I am not as tired as last time. I cannot say exactly how many litres I drank because I kept refilling my bottle,” she explains.
As part of endurance practice, she prepares her body by fasting, taking only one meal a day at intervals rather than daily, to help her adjust to going for long hours without food.
When the day for the attempt draws closer, her preparation becomes even stricter: she avoids water, food, sleep, and even bathroom breaks.
Part of her training also involves long walks; she normally covers 42 kilometres non-stop and continues with her one-meal-a-day routine.
Her motivation to surpass her previous personal record comes from the success of her last attempt and her work as a mental health advocate.
“Last time, I vouched for mental health in a way that resonated with people, by showing that hugging trees can bring happiness and support those struggling with mental health,” she says.
She adds: “Tree hugging is highly therapeutic, especially at a time when climate injustices and mental health crises are linked to environmental degradation, such as wildfires, droughts, and floods. Victims often experience post-traumatic stress, and reconnecting with nature can bring healing.”
This time, her focus is on protecting indigenous trees.
“I want to inspire people to fall in love with nature and treat it with care. Conservation begins with love. Nowadays, there are many tree-planting initiatives, but people often replace indigenous forests with saplings, believing that is mitigation, yet it is not. We must first protect what we already have,” she explains.
Her signature look features 17 strands of braided hair, which she says are symbolic.
“The 17 strands represent the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The braids are also made from recycled yarn straps that I have been saving for the last four years. This is a message that we can contribute to sustainability in small ways, and everyone should do what they can,” she says.
The colors of her braids carry meaning as well: black symbolizes African power, green represents regeneration and growth, red stands for indigenous resistance, and blue honours water protectors.
As soon as she surpassed her 48-hour record on Wednesday afternoon, visitors from Murang’a, Kericho, and Laikipia arrived to witness the attempt firsthand.
“Some of the questions I get from curious Kenyans are why I hug a tree instead of a person, and how I survive without bathroom breaks. It’s all a matter of training and endurance,” she says.
After submitting her 72-hour attempt, Truphena expects Guinness World Records to publish it on January 9.
“A good samaritan has promised to pay the Sh83,000 (USD 650) fee required for it to be evaluated quickly,” she explains, noting that longer marathons sometimes take six months to a year to be officially recognised.
Her 48-hour marathon is also yet to be published due to technical issues she faced while submitting the evidence.
“There were hitches, forcing me to restart the submission in September after 16 weeks. I now plan to pay so that both attempts can be documented at the same time in January,” she says.
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