Ruto Meets Truphena, Awards Her Ambassadorial Role
President William Ruto has appointed Truphena Muthoni as an ambassador for his 15 billion tree planting drive, as part of a slew of awards and national recognition for the environmental crusader.
Truphena set a new tree-hugging record in Nyeri on Thursday, December 11, by enduring 72 hours without eating, sitting, or using the restroom to raise awareness about environmental issues.
The performance has yet to be validated by Guinness World Records; therefore, Truphena has yet to officially beat her 48-hour record set in May.
Following her achievement, Truphena was given the rare opportunity to meet with the President at the State House on Monday, December 15, where she was recognized.
To recognize her accomplishment, President Ruto announced Truphena’s appointment as an Ambassador for the 15 billion tree-planting effort.
“As a mark of national honour for her exemplary service to environmental stewardship, I have conferred upon Truphena Muthoni the Head of State Commendation (HSC) Medal,” said President Ruto.
Truphena Muthoni is an exemplary young Kenyan whose dedication and determination embody the very best of our nation’s spirit.
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) December 15, 2025
I had the pleasure of engaging with her in my office following her remarkable and record-breaking act of spending 72 continuous hours embracing an… pic.twitter.com/LL4TMOrssQ
The tree-planting effort was a landmark government initiative designed to restore forest cover and secure Kenya’s environmental future.
In addition to the ambassadorial duty, Ruto stated that the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) have collaborated to offer Muthoni and her team a completely subsidized holiday experience.
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They also recognize the importance of environmental conservation in fostering sustainable tourism.
A day earlier, Truphena disclosed in a TV interview that she had planned to hold her tree-hugging marathon in Brazil but was unable to do so owing to a lack of cooperation from stakeholders, including the Ministry.
To further show support towards Truphena’s cause, Ruto also announced the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry would facilitate her long-held dream of visiting Brazil.
My environmental engagement with President @WilliamsRuto today in the State House, Nairobi, Kenya. pic.twitter.com/8Dd9RsU22g
— Truphena Muthoni, HSC (@TruphenaMuthon) December 15, 2025
This will help her be exposed to global conservation initiatives and strengthen her role as an environmental powerhouse.
Ruto Meets Truphena, Awards Her Ambassadorial Role
