In a world where climate advocacy is usually defined by conferences, policy documents, and global campaigns, Truphena Muthoni has chosen an entirely different path, one built on endurance, silence, and a profoundly spiritual bond with nature.
At just 22, she has emerged as one of Kenya’s most intriguing young environmental voices, capturing national and international attention through a series of remarkable tree-hugging marathons that blend symbolism, healing, and activism.
Childhood Roots and an Unexpected Artistic Awakening
Muthoni’s early life shaped a philosophy centred on responsibility rather than recognition. She believes her environmental calling came through what she describes as “divine dispensation,” a natural impulse to protect others and safeguard nature.
At only five years old, she was clearing banana peels and stones from walkways to prevent people from slipping; an instinctive act of empathy that foreshadowed the advocate she would become.
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This quiet sense of duty carried into her school life, where she excelled athletically as a swift runner and talented footballer. But her journey shifted in an unexpected direction during a NACADA event where the lead performer disappeared moments before taking the stage.
Battling panic disorder and known as the quiet one, she was the last person expected to step in. Yet she did, and stunned the audience with a performance that earned her the Best Actor award on her very first attempt. It marked the beginning of her artistic awakening.
Writing followed shortly afterward in equally surprising fashion. One evening during school prep, she woke to find a fully written poem on her desk; her first creative piece, penned in a moment she doesn’t fully recall.
From then on, poetry and performance became her voice, and eventually her tools for advocacy. She immersed herself in creative work aligned with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, fusing art and activism in ways that deepened her impact.
From Panic Disorder to Endurance Activism
Living with panic disorder forced Muthoni to build inner resilience, empathy, and deep emotional awareness.
Trees became her refuge; safe spaces where she could breathe, ground herself, and calm the weight of anxiety. What began as a personal coping mechanism gradually evolved into a form of public activism rooted in endurance.
She developed what is now recognised as endurance activism, using long, silent sessions of tree hugging to explore and express themes of mental health, healing, and environmental protection.
This practice eventually led her to her first major milestone: a 48-hour tree-hugging marathon completed without food, water, or breaks.
The event, witnessed and covered by Kenyan media and monitored by Kenya Forest Service officers for security, officially established her as the 48-hour record holder.
Beyond the recognition, the achievement introduced a new approach to climate messaging, one that replaced urgency with stillness and noise with quiet determination.
Breaking Through to 72 Hours
After achieving the 48-hour milestone, Muthoni stepped back to reflect and rebuild her physical and emotional strength.
She knew she wanted to go further, but refused to proceed without adequate preparation. Her training period became both disciplined and transformative.
She strengthened her stamina through long-distance walks that sometimes stretched up to 42 kilometres.
Muthoni conditioned her body through intermittent fasting and undertook several endurance sessions lasting between 35 and nearly 60 hours to prepare her mind for prolonged silence and stillness.
She also went through medical evaluations to ensure that she could safely attempt a longer challenge.
All of this culminated in her historic 72-hour silent tree-hugging marathon in December 2025 in Nyeri County. For three days, she remained in a deep embrace with a tree, pushing through hunger, fatigue, emotion, and physical strain.
The attempt drew local communities, environmental supporters, and widespread media coverage. When she finally completed the 72 hours, documented and witnessed, she reinforced her position as a pioneer of endurance activism and demonstrated that sometimes the most powerful form of protest is silence.
COP30 and the Amazon Mission
Muthoni’s work is now moving onto the global stage. Ahead of COP30, she is preparing to return to the Amazon, a place she considers central to the world’s climate justice struggle.
Her mission there is bold: a 72-hour tree-hugging marathon at Quilombo do Abacatal, embracing a 300-year-old Samaúma tree.
Her act is intended as a gesture of solidarity with the Quilombo communities, Afro-descendant groups who have protected the Amazon for generations and now face increasing threats from land development and environmental degradation.
She is also preparing to launch a global Climate Justice Anthem co-created with schoolchildren, amplifying youth voices at a moment when climate conversations often overlook them.
