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Kenya's young climate influencers driving real change

Thuku Kariuki | Daniela Rivas
March 11, 2026

Three young women in Kenya are using social media to inspire climate action with huge success — mobilizing communities, and breaking barriers for youth participation.

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In Kenya, a new generation of young climate influencers is using social media to drive environmental action. Truphena Muthoni gained global attention after setting a Guinness World Record by hugging a tree for 72 hours — a symbolic call to protect Kenya’s forests that led to her appointment as an ambassador for the country’s 15‑billion‑tree initiative. Lydia Wanja opens up international climate forums to young Africans by translating restricted political spaces into accessible online content.

Environmentalist Elizabeth Wathuti uses her platforms to inspire climate engagement and highlight her Green Generation Initiative, which brings tree planting and nature education into schools. Her viral COP26 speech amplified her impact, cementing her place among TIME’s most influential climate leaders. Together, these young women are turning digital influence into on-the-ground climate action across Kenya.