President William Ruto’s senior advisor, Makau Mutua, has sparked debate after calling for an unusual but symbolic national response to Kenya’s worsening climate challenges.

In a statement shared on X on Friday, January 9, 2026, Mutua weighed in on the rising temperatures, environmental degradation, and what he described as a growing national “climate fever,” urging Kenyans to rethink their relationship with nature. His remarks come at a time when there is a growing number of young people who have come out and hug trees due to various awareness campaigns.

Mutua’s humorous comments touched on farmers facing crop failures to urban residents dealing with heat stress and water shortages. Climate change has increasingly become a lived reality rather than a distant threat. Tree loss and poor land use are worsening the situation, while government-led tree-planting efforts continue to face challenges in implementation and public participation.

In his statement, Mutua suggested a symbolic national moment that would force collective reflection and action. He framed his idea as both a release of public anxiety and a practical push toward environmental restoration, insisting that symbolic acts must be matched with real action on the ground.

Mutua argued that Kenya’s environmental problems will not be solved by rhetoric alone, and that ordinary people must be directly involved in restoring the country’s green cover.

“At this rate, I think the only way to cure the fever is for Kenya to declare an official annual Tree Hugging Day. So that everyone can hug a tree and get it over with. But if you hug a tree on that day, you must also plant at least two. Otherwise, this tree-hugging demon won’t leave us. Ama namna gani?” Makau Mutua said.

Kenya has committed to ambitious tree-cover targets and climate goals, Mutua say public ownership of these efforts remains key.

Stephen Gachanja launches tree-hugging challenge after Pastor Jimmy and Truphena

Another Kenyan has launched his own tree-hugging challenge, drawing inspiration from the high-profile attempts by Pastor Jimmy Irungu and environmental activist Truphena Muthoni, whose recent campaigns captured national attention.

Speaking about his ongoing effort in a TikTok video on Thursday, January 8, 2026, the Kenyan, Stephen Gachanja, revealed that he began hugging the tree on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, and that he is aiming to remain rooted for a total of 50 hours.

“My name is Stephen Gachanja. I began hugging the tree yesterday, and I am aiming to do 50 hours. I am now 16 hours into the feat,” he said.

His challenge comes in the wake of Pastor Jimmy Irungu’s widely publicised 80-hour tree-hugging campaign, which ended dramatically after the preacher collapsed during the 79th hour and was rushed to Murang’a Level 5 Hospital for medical attention.

Pastor Jimmy had begun the endurance challenge on Sunday, January 4, 2026, as part of a campaign to raise awareness about cancer, which he described as a growing tragedy affecting countless Kenyan families.