For three days and three nights, Truphena Muthoni held on to a single tree in central Kenya. By the time she stepped away, she had drawn national attention — and a wave of disbelief.

Muthoni, 22, an environmental activist from Nyeri County, says she completed her 72-hour tree-hugging challenge without a single toilet break. Speaking during a TikTok livestream late on Thursday, she addressed a question that had dominated online chatter: had she worn diapers to get through the ordeal?

“No, not at all,” she said firmly. “I did not wear diapers as some people have claimed. I managed the challenge without a toilet break.”

The claim was met with scepticism from fellow content creators who joined the livestream. One of them, MC Chris Kirubi, asked the question many viewers were thinking: “Truphena, are you sure you did not soil or wet your pants while going three days without a toilet break?”

Muthoni laughed it off. She said she had “planned myself carefully” and prepared in advance so that her body could endure the long hours without medical complications. “That’s also why I did not need to go to the hospital after the 72 hours,” she added. “I am strong.”

Her challenge began on 8 December in Nyeri, where she anchored herself to a single tree for a marathon meant to draw attention to deforestation, climate change and the mental health struggles facing young Kenyans. At one point, she blindfolded herself for three hours to highlight what she described as the daily experiences of visually impaired people.

What started as a personal mission quickly attracted a steady stream of supporters. Residents, youth leaders and local environmental groups passed by to cheer her on and bring food, water and words of encouragement. Many followed her progress online, sending virtual gifts and messages.

Muthoni wore black, green and red throughout the challenge — colours she said carried deep meaning. Black, she explained, symbolised African strength and defiance; green stood for hope and reforestation; and red, woven into her hair, represented indigenous resistance.

By the time she stepped away from the tree, she had become one of the most talked-about young activists in the country. Whether Kenyans accepted every detail of her story or not, her message — and her stamina — had already sparked a conversation far bigger than the challenge itself.