Kenyan environmentalist Truphena Muthoni is preparing to set a new Guinness World Record in Brazil by hugging 1,172 trees within one hour, spending two to three seconds on each tree.
Recently, she left netizens stunned after sharing a glimpse of her intense training. In one clip, she lay in cold water dressed in traditional Kikuyu attire, sparking debate among Kenyans over her extreme preparation methods and potential health risks.
“Training with elements, cold water strengthens muscles, improves circulation and builds endurance,” she explained.
After the cold-water session, Truphena was also seen practising breathing exercises, which she said help centre both her body and mind ahead of the demanding challenge.
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The 22-year-old will travel to Brazil on March 22, 2026, to engage with indigenous communities and attempt the record.
“From Kenya to Brazil, as the sister of the forest, I respond to a higher calling. The hug-the-Earth journey begins,” she wrote.
Truphena rose to fame last year after attempting to hug a tree for 72 hours in Nyeri, aiming to break her own Guinness record of 48 hours. She undertook the challenge to raise awareness about climate change and protest deforestation, enduring harsh weather without sleep or breaks.
Her plans have divided online opinion.
Muiah Florence wrote on Instagram: “Planting is better than hugging, honestly.”
Another defended Truphena: “If you don't like an idea, just ignore it. Whatever you think she should do, just go ahead and do it.”
“In my life, I’ve learnt that if you attempt to go against a group of Kenyans, they will finish you, and the opposite is the same… I was wondering what she did, boom, comment section provided answers,” bantered another.
The current record for most trees hugged in one hour is 1,123, set by Abubakar Tahiru of Ghana in Auburn, Alabama, USA, on March 25, 2024.