Sabina Chege cheers on Truphena Muthoni as she nears 72-hour tree-hugging record
By Valerian Khakayi, December 11, 2025Nominated Member of Parliament (MP) Sabina Chege has hailed environmental activist Truphena Muthoni as she nears her 72-hour tree-hugging silence protest.
She has already gone halfway through and is set to complete the challenge on Thursday, December 11, 2025, at 12:30 pm.
In a statement shared on her official social media account, Sabina applauded Truphena for her resilience and love for the environment.
“HUG LIFE! Truphena Muthoni is crushing it – 48 hrs down, 24 to go! Hugging a tree for 72 hours to break her own record! This girl’s resilience and love for the environment are goals!” Sabina Wrote.
“Legends are made through struggles and self-sacrifice! Go get ’em, Truphena!”
Her protest is not loud, but it is powerful. It shows that activism can be gentle and still make a strong statement.
Tree-hugging protest
The young environmental activist aims to advocate against deforestation and the protection of animal rights in her 72-hour tree-hugging silent protest.
She began her 72-hour marathon on December 8, 2025, in Nyeri County.
Her goal is to break her own Guinness World Record, which she set earlier this year after hugging a tree for 48 hours at Nairobi’s Michuki Memorial Park.
As Truphena continues her tree hug, the colours she wears turn her into a moving symbol of environmental justice. Her protest is not loud, but it is powerful. It shows that activism can be gentle and still make a strong statement.
Her earlier 48-hour tree hug at Nairobi’s Michuki Memorial Park earned her national recognition and praise from environmental groups.
This new challenge is meant to raise awareness about deforestation, climate change, and mental-health struggles among young people. Truphena has also included a three-hour blindfolded segment to highlight the experiences of visually impaired people and to link conservation to social justice.
Colours
Truphena’s choice of colours is not random but a statement, speaking during an interview with a local station on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, she said that each colour is a form of visual protest.
She says black represents African power, protest, and resilience. In this moment, black is her way of saying that environmental protection is also an African struggle, one rooted in identity and dignity.
The touch of green on her clothing represents reforestation, regeneration, and hope. As she hugs the tree, green becomes a symbol of the future she is fighting for, one where forests are restored, ecosystems are revived, and communities can still rely on nature.
In addition, Truphenas said that red is a colour tied to indigenous resistance and frontline courage. Blue on her attire is a tribute to water protectors and ocean defenders.
“Black means African power, protest and resilience, green is for reforestation, regeneration and hope, while red means indigenous resistance and frontline courage and blue water protectors and ocean defenders,” Truphena said.