Ksh 1M for hugging a tree
Environmental activist Truphena Muthoni has captured the hearts of many, both online and offline, as she embarked on an impressive 72-hour tree-hugging challenge. The support she received was nothing short of amazing, with Kenyans rallying around her and showering her with gifts.
During her livestreams, her TikTok page became a hub of activity, attracting thousands of viewers and turning her record attempt into one of the most financially backed moments for a Kenyan creator this year.
At one point, nearly 45,000 people tuned in to watch her live, and fans generously sent a continuous flow of virtual gifts. Among these were high-value items like Lions and TikTok Universe gifts, along with a flurry of roses, hand hearts, perfumes, and confetti.
Throughout her TikTok livestream, Truphena was gifted over two Lions, more than seven Money Guns, Galaxy gifts, two Fireworks, and TikTok Universe gifts, not to mention a multitude of roses, hand hearts, finger hearts, perfumes, and confetti.
On the platform, the gift system lets viewers show their love for their favorite live streamers by buying and sending virtual goodies.
These gifts are purchased with TikTok Coins, a virtual currency that you can buy with real money. The value of the gift in coins gets converted into Diamonds for the creator, which they can then cash out.
Right now, the priciest gift is the TikTok Universe, costing around 44,999 Coins (about Sh72,551), closely followed by the Lion at roughly 29,999 Coins (around Sh51,462), and the Diamond Flight at about 18,000 Coins (around Sh30,891). Other fun gifts include confetti, perfume, roses, hand hearts, and finger hearts.
With these figures, Truphena’s premium gifts alone pushed her earnings well past the half-million shilling mark.
Not just individual fans, but companies and public figures were quick to step up with rewards to celebrate her victory.
A betting company promised her a Sh1 million payout for breaking the record, while a travel company offered her a fully paid three-night getaway in Mombasa.
On top of that, personal pledges included a Samsung Galaxy Fold 7 and a Sh100,000 contribution to help with Guinness World Records processing fees.
She also received offers for skincare treatments and several months’ worth of custom outfits from local brands eager to celebrate her achievement.
Muthoni wrapped up the 72-hour embrace just after midday outside the Nyeri Governor’s Office, where hundreds gathered to witness this historic moment.
Supporters kept a vigil through the rain, cold, and long nights, providing her with food, water, prayers, and constant encouragement as she fought through fatigue and physical strain.
When she finally crossed the 72-hour mark, the crowd that had gathered at the governor’s office erupted into cheers, songs, and ululations.
The environmentalist, in a past interview, mentioned that this feat was not just about endurance but also about raising awareness of the dangers of deforestation and the urgency of action.
Ksh 1M for hugging a tree
