Kenyan climate activist Truphena Muthoni has been officially recognized by Guinness World Records after completing the longest marathon hugging a tree, an endurance feat that lasted 72 continuous hours.
The record was set on December 11 in Nyeri County, where Muthoni withstood cold and rainy nights as well as long daytime hours without taking a break. Guinness World Records confirmed that the achievement surpassed the previous benchmark of 48 hours, which Muthoni herself had set earlier in 2025.
“Longest marathon hugging a tree, 72 hours by @truphena_muthoni,” Guinness World Records announced on its official social media platforms.
Truphena Muthoni from Kenya has set the record for longest marathon hugging a tree with an unbelievable total of 72 hours.
“Hugging a tree shows that nature is not separate from us, it is family.” pic.twitter.com/mf4R9UCRRj
— Guinness World Records (@GWR) January 26, 2026
According to the organization, the record attempt was driven by Muthoni’s mission to elevate awareness around the protection of Indigenous trees and to honour the knowledge and wisdom of Indigenous communities.
Muthoni has gained national prominence for her environmental advocacy, particularly her campaigns promoting reforestation and the conservation of native tree species. Her work has consistently spoken out against the indiscriminate cutting of indigenous trees while encouraging community-led conservation initiatives across the country.
Explaining the motivation behind her activism in a previous interview, Muthoni said her goal is to foster a deeper emotional connection between people and nature.
“I am doing this to encourage people to fall in love with nature, so that they do not hurt nature,” she said. “I believe that conservation begins with love, and that we must nurture a million trees before we plant a million trees.”
Her efforts have also attracted recognition at the highest levels of government. On December 15, President William Ruto appointed Muthoni as an ambassador for Kenya’s 15-billion-tree planting campaign, citing her courage, resilience, and leadership in environmental conservation.
“As a mark of national honour for her exemplary service to environmental stewardship, I have conferred upon Truphena Muthoni the Head of State Commendation (HSC) Medal,” President Ruto said.
The President further announced that the Kenya Wildlife Service and the Kenya Tourism Board would sponsor a holiday experience for Muthoni and her team. In addition, the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry will support her goal to visit Brazil, an initiative aimed at expanding her exposure to global conservation efforts and environmental leadership.
