Environmental activist Truphena Muthoni is set to lead two ambitious conservation initiatives later this year, months after gaining national attention for hugging a tree continuously for 72 hours in a Guinness World Records attempt.
The 22-year-old made headlines in December last year for the symbolic act, which she said was meant to draw attention to environmental protection and climate action. Now, Muthoni says she is shifting focus from solo activism to large-scale collective action involving communities, institutions and volunteers.
On May 26, during World Turtle Day, Muthoni plans to spearhead a mass mangrove planting exercise in Kwale County, targeting the planting of 1.2 million mangrove trees within one hour.
“Plans for this event are in high gear, but this will be a collective effort,” she said. “We will be working with different organisations and members of the public to make it happen.”
The initiative will be conducted in partnership with the Kwale County Government, the Kenya Forest Service, the Kenya Scouts Association and other stakeholders.
Mangroves play a critical role in marine ecosystems, particularly in supporting turtle populations. They provide rich feeding grounds filled with algae, crustaceans and small invertebrates that sustain species such as green turtles and juvenile hawksbill turtles. The calm, shallow waters around mangrove forests also allow young turtles to feed safely while reducing exposure to predators.
Barely two weeks later, on June 6, Muthoni plans to lead an even more ambitious environmental campaign — mobilising efforts to plant one billion trees within 24 hours. The initiative aligns with Kenya’s national target of planting 32 billion trees by 2032.
Muthoni said her long-term goal is to inspire a culture of environmental conservation rooted in passion and collective responsibility rather than enforcement.
“I want to bring people together through love, so that conserving our planet comes from a place of care, not force or destruction,” she said.
