A peace campaign anchored on endurance and symbolism was cut short in Nanyuki after a 43-year-old man collapsed and was rushed to hospital less than a day into a tree-hugging challenge aimed at promoting national unity ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Paul Kago was taken to a local hospital in after fainting from hunger during the early stages of a planned 96-hour tree-hugging marathon.
Kago had launched the challenge as a personal appeal for peace, saying he wanted to encourage Kenyans to reject political violence and embrace unity as the country slowly enters the next election cycle.
According to witnesses at the scene, Kago lost consciousness while clinging to the tree and required immediate medical attention. His condition had not been disclosed by the time of publication.
The unusual endurance act was part of a growing trend in which Kenyans are using prolonged tree-hugging challenges to draw attention to social causes beyond environmental conservation.
In recent months, the movement has gained national attention following high-profile endurance protests by environmental activist Truphena Muthoni, whose efforts brought tree hugging into the public spotlight.
Muthoni made headlines after extending her protest beyond 72 hours, surpassing the 48-hour tree-hugging record that had earned her recognition from Guinness World Records.
“The longest marathon hugging a tree is 48 hours and was achieved by Truphena Muthoni (Kenya) in Nairobi, Kenya, from 31 January to 2 February 2025,” Guinness World Records said in a statement released on December 12, 2025.
Her extended protest was framed as a silent demonstration against deforestation, land-use changes in forest areas, and the destruction of key water catchment zones. She also linked the act to mental health awareness, arguing that environmental degradation contributes to psychological distress.
“The reason for hugging trees is that it is therapeutic, and we have a lot of mental health crises across the world that are directly involved with environmental degradation,” Muthoni said in a video recorded before her challenge.
The trend has since inspired others to adopt similar endurance stunts for different causes.
In early January 2026, Murang’a-based pastor and gospel musician James “Jimmy” Irungu launched an 80-hour tree-hugging challenge to raise awareness about cancer, a cause he said was motivated by personal loss.
Irungu endured nearly 79 hours and 40 minutes before collapsing in the early hours of January 8, falling just short of his target. He was rushed to Murang’a Level Five Hospital, where doctors treated him for exhaustion, dehydration and early signs of organ strain. He was later reported to be in stable condition under observation.
