Murang’a woman hugging a tree to raise depression awareness quits 1 hour into the challenge

A Murang’a woman by the name of Virginia Wangari has quit a tree-hugging challenge she had begun outside Murang’a Level 5 Hospital, following the disappearance of her son, Moses Waweru.

Speaking before ending the elusive challenge on Monday, January 19, 2026, Wangari revealed that she had decided to undertake the awareness effort to see whether it might help her receive any assistance in locating her son, who suffers from a mental health condition.

“My name is Virginia Wangari and my son is called Moses Waweru. We came to the hospital together, and when he was treated, I tried to guide him to the gate, but he insisted on having tea first. He asked me to go back to the hospital chemist to pick up his medicine, and when I returned, he was not there,” she narrated.

Wangari explained that her son had been struggling with depression ever since he was involved in a boda boda accident in which a friend tragically died.

She described the emotional toll the situation had taken on both of them, saying she had been continuously searching for him and had visited the hospital multiple times without success.

“My son has been depressed ever since he was involved in a boda boda accident in which his friend died, and I have not slept for a week because of him. Every day, my work has been to run after him, and the depression has taken a heavy toll, as sometimes he goes out, curses people, and even gets beaten. I have visited Murang’a Level 5 Hospital many times because of him,” she narrated.

The mother noted that her son’s mental health issues had, at times, manifested in him leaving home unexpectedly, cursing people in public, and getting into confrontations, all of which heightened her concern.

She also revealed that the tree-hugging challenge was intended not only as a symbolic gesture to sensitise the public on depression but also as a visible appeal for help in finding her missing child.

“I decided to hug this tree because he has vanished and I do not know where he is. I will stop hugging this tree when I see him. I have been stressed since I started looking for him at the hospital, and I cannot find him. I have searched everywhere, including the bus stage, but he is not there, and I am exhausted and deeply worried,” she said.

After about an hour, Wangari decided to end the challenge, leaving people, including journalists who had gathered to witness her endure the elusive challenge, stunned.