Environmental conservation champion Truphena Muthoni has spoken out on the now-viral tree-hugging challenge, explaining why the quiet act has struck a chord with people across Kenya.

In a statement shared on her official social media pages on Monday, January 12, 2026, Muthoni said the challenge resonates because it communicates care without confrontation.

“Tree hugging bypasses our defences because care speaks softer than argument,” she wrote on Instagram.

According to Muthoni, the act represents a deep and genuine connection with nature, delivering a message that words and slogans often fail to express.

“They say actions speak louder than words. I say, sometimes, hugging a tree speaks louder than a thousand protests,” she added.

Muthoni began her 72 hours tree hugging on December 8, 2025, with the goal of surpassing her previous 48-hour tree-hugging record.

She described the silent demonstration as a powerful way to highlight the destruction of forests while appealing to people’s conscience rather than provoking division.

“This peaceful form of advocacy transcends our divisions, as it avoids the conflicts we’ve seen in other demonstrations and instead appeals to our shared humanity,” she explained.

Beyond activism, Muthoni said the experience has been personally healing, reinforcing her commitment to protecting natural resources.

The challenge has since inspired many others to participate. Pastor Jimmy Irungu from Murang’a attempted to break an 80-hour tree-hugging record but collapsed during the 79th hour.

Meanwhile, 14-year-old Gachanja successfully completed a 50-hour challenge to raise funds for his ailing brother.

The movement has also attracted country wide attention. Participants from different counties have joined in, including a couple undertaking a 96-hour challenge while hugging each other to symbolise love and show that marriage can work.

As the trend continues to grow, Muthoni’s message remains clear: sometimes, silent action can speak the loudest.