Environmental activist Truphena Muthoni has revealed that she went without food and water as part of her intense mental preparation for her gruelling 72-hour tree-hugging record attempt.
The 22-year-old said her journey began months earlier, when she deliberately pushed her physical and psychological limits.
“Siku tatu ni non-stop—sili, sinywi maji. Nilifanya mental exercise for all these months,” she said in a TV interview, noting that she routinely deprived herself of food, water, and sleep to build her endurance.
Muthoni also explained the symbolism behind her outfit, which she said carried layered environmental and cultural meaning.
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“Black means African power, protest and resilience. Green is for reforestation, regeneration and hope. Red stands for Indigenous resistance and frontline courage. Blue represents water protectors and ocean defenders,” she said, adding that every colour reflected a cause she fights for.
As crowds in Nyeri gathered to cheer her on and leaders stopped by to show support, her record-breaking attempt also sparked mixed reactions online.
Critics dismissed the marathon as attention-seeking and questioned its significance.
One user commented,“Vitu kaa hizi zinafurahisha leaders… leader mzima anaenda kupiga picha na mtoi anahug mti,” tagging media personality Natalie Githinji.
Radio host Laura Mbatha echoed the scepticism, “I think some of these things are just for fame. You can now see we are discussing her.”
Others were even more blunt.
DJ Twinizzle questioned the value of the attempt, saying, “Is her life just worth a certificate? Where are her parents? If she were my sister, I’d tell her she’s doing nonsense just to be recognised. It’s like DJs who played for 24 hours during Covid—what did it help them with?”
Despite the criticism, Muthoni’s supporters argue that her mission goes far beyond the certificate.
The young activist from Nyeri has steadily built a reputation for using symbolic endurance challenges to spotlight deforestation, mental health, and indigenous tree protection.
Her first major milestone was a 48-hour tree-hugging marathon at John Michuki Memorial Park, where she intertwined environmental conservation with her personal healing journey.
Now, in her bold 72-hour attempt, Truphena Muthoni continues to ignite national debate while championing the climate cause with courage, resilience, and unwavering purpose.