Kenyan environmental enthusiast Truphena Muthoni has officially been recognised by Guinness World Records after completing the extraordinary feat of hugging a tree continuously for 48 hours.
Muthoni confirmed the milestone after receiving her official Record Breaker badge, which carries Guinness World Records’ seal and formally certifies her achievement as the longest marathon hugging a tree.
According to records released by Guinness, the feat was successfully completed in Nairobi on February 2, 2025, after a rigorous verification process that reviewed video evidence, timing data and supporting documentation.
The challenge required Muthoni to maintain uninterrupted physical contact with one tree for the entire 48-hour period. Any break in contact, no matter how brief, would have resulted in disqualification.
Guinness World Records is known for its strict validation procedures, and the issuance of the badge confirms that Muthoni fully met all global standards required for recognition.
Celebrating the milestone, Muthoni shared her excitement on social media, writing, “The New Year comes with an official Record Breaker Badge.”
Her achievement now joins thousands of verified records from around the world, highlighting both human endurance and purpose-driven feats.
Muthoni previously explained that her motivation went beyond breaking a record.
She said the attempt was aimed at raising awareness about the mental and emotional health benefits of connecting with nature, particularly tree hugging.
Preparation for the challenge took more than five months, during which she followed a demanding routine that included long-distance walks, strength training, and endurance tests involving extended periods of tree hugging to build both stamina and mental focus.
Her 48-hour performance shattered the previous record of 24 hours and 21 minutes, which had been set by Ghanaian journalist Abdul Hakim Awal during a tree-hugging event in Kumasi. Awal himself had earlier surpassed a 16-hour record held by Uganda’s Faith Patricia Ariokot.
Awal’s attempt was tied to environmental conservation, as he committed to planting one tree for every minute spent hugging, eventually planting more than 1,400 seedlings.
Following confirmation of her record, Muthoni expressed gratitude to God and Kenyans for their support, revealing that she is now awaiting certification for an even more ambitious 72-hour tree-hugging attempt, which is still under review by Guinness World Records.
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