President William Ruto on Monday elevated young environmental activist Truphena Muthoni to the national spotlight, appointing her an Ambassador of the 15 Billion Tree Planting Campaign
The Head of the State also awarded her the Head of State Commendation (HSC) Medal following her widely publicised 72-hour tree-hugging protest for climate action.
The announcement was made at State House, Nairobi, where President Ruto, accompanied by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, hosted Muthoni days after her record-breaking act of embracing an indigenous tree continuously for three days to draw attention to environmental degradation and the effects of climate change.
“This is an extraordinary demonstration of courage, resilience and leadership by a young Kenyan committed to safeguarding our environment,” President Ruto said.
He described her action as a powerful call for both national and global climate responsibility.
With the appointment, Muthoni becomes one of the public faces of the government’s ambitious 15 Billion Tree Planting Campaign, a flagship initiative aimed at increasing Kenya’s tree cover and restoring degraded ecosystems as part of the country’s climate mitigation strategy.
In addition to the national honour, the government announced a package of incentives to support her advocacy work.
The Kenya Wildlife Service and the Kenya Tourism Board will sponsor a holiday for Muthoni and her team, while the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry will facilitate her visit to Brazil to expose her to international conservation efforts and environmental leadership.
Deputy President Kindiki said Muthoni’s actions had resonated beyond Kenya’s borders, placing the climate crisis at the centre of public debate.
“Her persistence and bravery have amplified the urgency of environmental conservation locally and internationally,” he said.
The recognition comes amid renewed government emphasis on climate action, with the administration banking on citizen-led initiatives to complement policy interventions in achieving long-term environmental sustainability.
Edited by John Majau.
