Kahiga urged young people to channel their energy and creativity into positive action.Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga has urged Kenyan youths to commit themselves to strong, progressive ideas they believe in and pursue them with discipline and focus.
Speaking on Wednesday after opening a two-day youth summit in Nyeri town, the governor cited 22-year-old climate activist Truphena Muthoni’s world-record attempt as an example of the determination young people should strive for.
Muthoni, who is attempting to extend her previous 48-hour tree-hugging world record to an unprecedented 72 hours, broke her earlier milestone set on February 1, 2025, at the Michuki Memorial Park shortly after midday on Wednesday.
She had braved heavy rains through the night as she continued the endurance challenge outside the governor’s office.
“The youth, when focused, can achieve anything in the world. It’s not easy standing here for the last 24 hours; it’s not going to be easy standing for 72 hours, but the message we should get is that everything is possible,” Kahiga said.
“She is only 22. Think about her if she’s going to live to 80—how many things will she do that will put her all over the world map?”
Kahiga urged young people to channel their energy and creativity into positive action.
“So, even yourselves, whatever you are, please do what you are doing in the right way; do it and focus rather than just wasting time. Be creative like she is. In other words, find something that you are ready to die for,” he said.
Muthoni has framed her attempt not as a quest for fame or financial reward, but as a bold call to action on environmental protection, climate change and the urgent need to halt deforestation.
Her vigil has drawn public solidarity, with well-wishers gathering on Tuesday night to shield her from the driving rain and cold.
Her effort has also won praise from national leaders. Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua encouraged her to keep pushing until she completes the record-setting challenge.
“Push on, my daughter. I strongly encourage you in your conservation resolve to not only break your record in the Guinness World Records of hugging a tree but also the awareness creation on environmental conservation and mental health challenges attached,” he said.
Tree hugging, often linked to the practice of “forest bathing” or shinrin-yoku in Japan, has been studied since the 1980s for its therapeutic effects.
Research suggests that spending prolonged time in forests, including physical contact with trees, may reduce stress, lower blood pressure, elevate mood and strengthen immune function.
These benefits are associated partly with exposure to natural compounds released by trees, such as phytoncides, which have been shown to lower cortisol and improve overall well-being.
As Muthoni presses on toward the 72-hour mark, her experiment in endurance has become a rallying point for environmental advocacy and mental health — one that she hopes will inspire a wider national commitment to tackle the twin crises.
