Doctors' warning: Tree-hugging protest risks one's lives or health

Pastor Jimmy Irungu, 30, attempted to break a world record by hugging a tree for 80 hours in an effort to advocate for the fight against cancer. He was hospitalised after collapsing. [Courtesy]

What started as a solitary act of endurance and protest has, within months, grown into one of Kenya’s most talked-about social media crazes, drawing admiration, curiosity and serious concern from medical experts.

Since late last year, Kenyans across the country have taken to hugging trees for hours and in some cases days to draw attention to a wide range of causes, from environmental conservation and mental health to cancer awareness, the plight of the boy child and insecurity.

The trend first gained national attention after environmental activist Truphena Muthoni staged a silent protest against irresponsible tree cutting, forest land-use changes and the continued degradation of water catchment areas.

Muthoni, who already held a world record for the longest continuous hug given to a tree at 48 hours, pushed her limits further by clocking 72 hours, smashing her own record and igniting a wave of copycat challenges.

Images and videos of her standing, arms wrapped around a tree trunk, quickly went viral, inspiring many to see tree hugging as a powerful symbol of resistance, healing and reconnection with nature in an increasingly stressful world.

For others, it became a platform to spotlight personal or national struggles and, inevitably, a quest for viral fame.

Soon after, Pastor Jimmy Irungu, 30, embarked on an ambitious 80-hour tree-hugging challenge to raise awareness about cancer as a growing public health concern in Kenya. Irungu began the challenge on a Sunday night at 9.27 pm and was expected to complete it at 5.57 am on December 8. However, just 20 minutes before the finish line, his body gave in.

He collapsed at the tree site and was rushed by a waiting ambulance to Murang’a County Referral Hospital, where doctors diagnosed him with acute kidney injury, severe muscle fatigue and dangerously elevated muscle enzymes. Medical reports also showed that his brain function had begun to be affected, a clear sign that his body had reached critical distress.

Doctors say Irungu’s condition was the result of prolonged physical stress, sleep deprivation and dehydration a combination that can quickly spiral into multi-organ failure if not addressed in time. He was admitted for close monitoring, fluid resuscitation and correction of electrolyte imbalances. Fortunately, he stabilised after treatment.

Despite the medical scare, the craze did not slow down.

In January, 14-year-old Stephen Gachanja undertook a 50-hour tree-hugging marathon to raise Sh3.5 million for his brother’s ear surgery, drawing both praise for his determination and concern over the health risks posed to a minor.

In Kirinyaga County, Josphat Ndegwa from Mwea hugged a tree continuously for 52 hours, using the platform to speak about depression and the often-ignored plight of the boy child.

The latest entrant is Moses Mugambi, 25, who began hugging a tree at Nteere Park in Meru town, announcing plans to last 100 hours. Mugambi says his protest is meant to draw attention to rampant cattle rustling and banditry in the northern parts of Nyambene, which he argues have robbed families of livelihoods and claimed lives.

From city centres to rural landscapes, such scenes have become increasingly common, with crowds gathering, cameras rolling and social media timelines flooded with live updates. While many Kenyans applaud the creativity and courage behind the acts, health experts are sounding the alarm. 

“This is not just about hugging a tree. It is about what prolonged physical stress, lack of sleep and dehydration do to the human body,” says Naomi Gudu, a consultant physician.

Gudu explains that sleep is a vital biological process, allowing the body to restore critical functions.

“Sleep deprivation is actually used as a form of torture because it disrupts the brain and the body’s ability to regulate itself. When someone stays awake for 72, 80 or even 100 hours, stress hormones are released continuously. These hormones are meant for short-term ‘fight or flight’ situations, not for prolonged activation,” she says.

According to Gudu, chronic elevation of stress hormones can raise blood pressure, blood sugar levels and even contribute to long-term weight changes. More immediately, lack of sleep impairs judgment, coordination and brain function.

“In someone with underlying conditions like epilepsy, sleep deprivation can lower the seizure threshold. You could literally get a seizure while standing there hugging a tree,” she warns.

Dehydration, she adds, compounds the danger. “Blood is largely made up of water. When someone is dehydrated, the kidneys are the first organs to suffer. That is why we see acute kidney injury in such cases. As dehydration worsens, blood pressure can drop dangerously, leading to shock and compromised blood flow to vital organs.”

Gudu explains that when the body is under extreme stress, it prioritises survival by redirecting blood away from organs it deems less immediately critical, such as the kidneys. Prolonged reduced blood flow can damage these organs. Electrolyte imbalances involving minerals like sodium and potassium can then disrupt the function of the brain, nerves and muscles, including the heart.

“These electrolytes are essential for breathing, heartbeat regulation and temperature control. When they are out of balance, multiple organ systems can fail,” she says.

Recovery from such distress, doctors note, is not always straightforward. It depends on which organs were affected and how severely. Rapid correction of fluids and electrolytes must be done carefully to avoid complications such as refeeding syndrome, a potentially fatal condition that can occur when nutrition is reintroduced too quickly after prolonged fasting.

James Kahura, a consultant physician and nephrologist, echoes these concerns, drawing from firsthand experience treating one of the tree-hugging participants.

“When he came in, he had severe dehydration and exhaustion. He had started developing multi-organ failure,” Dr Kahura explains.

“We noted acute kidney injury and significant muscle breakdown, indicated by very high muscle enzymes. We admitted him, gave intravenous fluids, corrected his electrolytes and monitored him closely.”

He says the patient’s condition improved after treatment, with urine output normalising and vital signs stabilising, but the risk was real.

Both doctors stress that while freedom of expression and advocacy are important, they should not come at the cost of life and health.