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President William Ruto on Monday appointed environmental activist Truphena Muthoni as an ambassador of the government’s 15 Billion Tree Planting Campaign, citing her outstanding dedication to climate action and forest conservation.
The announcement followed a meeting between the President and Muthoni at State House, Nairobi, where Ruto commended her courage and leadership after her widely publicised achievement of spending 72 uninterrupted hours hugging an indigenous tree to promote environmental protection and climate awareness.
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The President described Muthoni as a role-model young Kenyan whose determination mirrors the country’s resilient spirit, noting that her symbolic endurance challenge drew both national and international attention at a crucial time in the fight against climate change.
Ruto said he had personally engaged with Muthoni after her powerful gesture, which he said helped amplify public awareness on conservation and climate issues.
In her new role, Muthoni will help advance the government’s flagship reforestation programme, which aims to restore forest cover, protect biodiversity and secure Kenya’s environmental future through broad citizen involvement, especially among young people.
In further recognition of her efforts, the President announced that the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) will sponsor a holiday for Muthoni and her team in appreciation of her conservation advocacy.
The Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry will also support her planned visit to Brazil to gain exposure to international conservation initiatives and environmental leadership programmes.
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Additionally, President Ruto awarded Muthoni the Head of State Commendation (HSC) Medal in honour of her contribution to environmental stewardship and youth-led climate action.
Muthoni recently set a new world record after completing a 72-hour non-stop tree-hugging marathon in Nyeri County, surpassing her previous record of 48 hours. The feat, which attracted widespread public support and online engagement, is expected to be submitted to global record-certifying bodies for verification.
Speaking after the challenge, Muthoni said her goal was to highlight the urgency of protecting forests and to motivate young people to take an active role in conservation.
She said the record was meant to serve as a call to action for tree protection, climate responsibility and the future of the planet.
Medical volunteers and organisers closely monitored her health throughout the marathon as supporters gathered to cheer her on.
Environmental organisations and local leaders have since praised the initiative as an innovative and impactful form of advocacy, particularly as Kenya continues to face deforestation, land degradation and growing climate-related challenges.
