Last year, Truphena Muthoni became a household name after hugging a tree for 72 straight hours—a dramatic gesture meant to spotlight climate change and conservation.
At just 22, she earned recognition from Guinness World Records for the longest tree-hugging marathon, instantly elevating her profile both locally and internationally.
Back in Kenya, President William Ruto showered her with praise. He named her an ambassador for the 15 Billion Tree Planting Campaign, awarded her the Head of State Commendation (HSC), and facilitated a sponsored trip for her team through tourism and wildlife agencies. The Environment Ministry also supported her travel to Brazil, where she engaged with global environmental initiatives and planted a tree.
For a moment, she embodied youthful environmental passion—the face of tree conservation in a country pushing ambitious reforestation goals.
But politics, as they say, has a way of finding everyone.
Barely months after her record-breaking embrace of nature—and after receiving warm support from Kenyans and official recognition from the state—Muthoni has stepped firmly into the political arena. She has publicly endorsed Ruto’s 2027 re-election bid and aligned herself with the now-familiar “TUTAM” slogan—shorthand for supporters rallying behind the president’s second-term ambitions.
Taking to X on Sunday, she left little room for doubt:
“By the way, I will vote for Ruto. Very unapologetically.”
No hedging. No qualifiers. Just a clear political declaration.
Her statement has triggered a storm of reactions online. Some applaud her for standing by her convictions, arguing that environmental advocacy and political choice are not mutually exclusive. Others feel disappointed, suggesting that activism risks losing its moral high ground when it leans too visibly into partisan politics.
Is this a natural evolution of a young activist finding her political voice? Or does it blur the line between civic advocacy and political alignment?
Whatever the answer, one thing is certain: Truphena Muthoni knows how to command attention—whether by hugging a tree for 72 hours or by boldly shouting “TUTAM” in Kenya’s ever-heated political landscape.
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