Ruto bestows State Commendation on Nyeri tree-hugging Star
President Dr. William Ruto has conferred environmentalist Truphena Muthoni with the Head of State Commendation (HSC) in recognition of her record-breaking feat of hugging an indigenous tree continuously for 72 hours.
The 22-year-old environmental activist, who hails from Mathira in Nyeri County, has also been appointed Kenya’s official Ambassador for the 15 billion Tree Planting Campaign, a flagship government initiative launched to combat the adverse effects of climate change.
The recognition aligns with the government’s Mission 15B (Jaza Miti) initiative, launched by President Ruto to restore degraded landscapes across Kenya by planting 15 billion trees by the year 2032.
Speaking at State House during a meeting with Muthoni, President Ruto praised her as an outstanding example of youth activism and national pride, saying her environmental advocacy embodies Kenya’s growing commitment to sustainability.
“I had the pleasure of meeting this remarkable young woman following her extraordinary act of hugging an indigenous tree for 72 continuous hours — a deeply symbolic and inspiring gesture to raise awareness about environmental conservation and climate change,” said the President.
“As a mark of national honour for her exemplary work, I have conferred upon Truphena Muthoni the Head of State Commendation (HSC) Medal. She represents Kenya’s spirit of courage, determination, and environmental stewardship,” President Ruto declared.
The Head of State also announced that the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry will sponsor Muthoni’s dream trip to Brazil, the host nation of the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 2025), which she had hoped to attend but missed due to logistical constraints.
“In further appreciation of her inspiring work, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) have extended to her and her team a fully sponsored holiday experience,” said the President. “The Ministry of Environment will also facilitate her learning trip to Brazil to enhance her exposure to international conservation practices.”
The young environmentalist achieved her phenomenal world record on Thursday, December 11, 2025, when she spent exactly 72 hours hugging an American Ash Tree outside the Nyeri Governor’s Office — breaking her own previous record of 48 hours and 22 minutes set on February 2 at Michuki Memorial Park, Nairobi.
Muthoni’s achievement is believed to have surpassed the efforts of Ghana’s Abdul Hakim Awal, who hugged a tree for 24 hours earlier this year in Kumasi.
Speaking before her record-breaking event, Muthoni said her motivation was to remind the world of the urgent need to conserve indigenous trees and restore ecosystems that have been threatened by rampant deforestation.
