NAIROBI, Kenya Dec 15 – President William Ruto has rewarded environmental activist Truphena Muthoni with a fully sponsored holiday after her widely publicised act of spending 72 continuous hours embracing an indigenous tree to raise awareness about environmental conservation and climate change.
The holiday, sponsored by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB), will be extended to Muthoni and her team as part of a broader recognition package announced during a meeting with the President at State House.
In addition to the holiday, President Ruto conferred on Muthoni the Head of State Commendation (HSC) Medal, citing her courage, resilience and commitment to environmental advocacy.
“Truphena Muthoni is an exemplary young Kenyan whose dedication and determination embody the very best of our nation’s spirit,” the President said.
Ruto also appointed Muthoni as an Ambassador of the 15 Billion Tree Planting Campaign, the government’s flagship programme aimed at restoring forest cover and strengthening Kenya’s climate resilience.
Further recognition includes support from the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry to enable Muthoni to travel to Brazil, where she will gain exposure to global conservation initiatives and environmental leadership efforts.
The President said acknowledging young environmental champions through such incentives was key to inspiring national action on conservation and mobilising public support for Kenya’s goal of planting 15 billion trees by 2032.
Muthoni welcomed the recognition, saying the support would strengthen her advocacy work and encourage more Kenyans—especially young people—to actively participate in environmental protection and climate action.
