President William Ruto has stepped in to back environmental advocate Truphena Muthoni, pledging state support to help her advance her conservation campaign beyond Kenya’s borders.
Ruto hosted the 22-year-old activist at State House following her widely publicised 72-hour tree-hugging challenge.
The endurance act, carried out in Nyeri County, was meant to draw attention to the growing threat of deforestation and the urgent need for climate action.
Speaking after the meeting, the President said Muthoni’s actions sent a strong message on environmental responsibility and citizen involvement in conservation.
He noted that such individual efforts play an important role in shaping public attitudes towards nature and sustainable development.
“To honour her outstanding contribution to environmental protection, I have awarded Truphena Muthoni the Head of State Commendation Medal,” Ruto said.
He added that the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry would support her plans to travel to Brazil to engage with international environmental programmes and initiatives.
The President also named Muthoni an ambassador of the 15 Billion Tree Planting Campaign, a national programme aimed at restoring forest cover across the country.
He said her story and commitment would help mobilise communities, especially young people, to take part in tree growing and environmental conservation.
In recognition of her efforts, Ruto further announced that the Kenya Wildlife Service and the Kenya Tourism Board would sponsor a leisure trip for Muthoni and her team.
Muthoni’s meeting with the President followed public remarks in which she expressed disappointment over the lack of institutional support ahead of her tree-hugging challenge.
She said her original plan was to stage the event in Brazil, but she was unable to secure accreditation to attend the COP30 climate talks or receive backing from the Ministry of Environment.
“When I was trying to achieve what I have already achieved, I did not get any support. I requested assistance in different ways but did not receive it from the Ministry of Environment. I even sought accreditation to attend COP30, but it did not come through,” she said.
As a result, the environmentalist moved the challenge to Kenya, completing the 72-hour tree hug at the Nyeri Governor’s compound on December 11, 2025.
The feat attracted nationwide attention and sparked renewed debate on how institutions support grassroots environmental activism.
Muthoni says her approach to conservation is rooted in emotional connection, arguing that people are more inclined to protect nature when they feel personally attached to it.
Through her activism, she hopes to encourage a deeper appreciation of trees and forests as a way of fighting deforestation.
With the new recognition and support, Muthoni is expected to take on a bigger role in Kenya’s environmental space, contributing to national and global conversations on climate change and environmental protection.
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