From Tree Hugs to Tough Truths: When Meru Decided to Hug Back Against Cancer

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Apostle Dennis Murimi (with a cap) is joined by a fan as he tries an 80-hour tree-hugging challenge to raise Cancer Awareness in Meru. Photo/Felix Kinyua. 

Late last year, a 22-year-old environmental conservationist, Truphena Muthoni, reminded the world that trees need love too — and not just the occasional glance. She hugged a tree for 72 straight hours, earning herself a Guinness World Record and a stiff neck, all in the name of indigenous tree preservation.

Inspired by this leafy legacy, the “hugging movement” has officially landed closer to home — right in the heart of Meru Makutano.

Enter Apostle Dennis Murimi, affectionately known by supporters as the man of the cloak, who has decided that if trees could speak, they would probably say: “Thank you for noticing cancer too.”

Apostle Murimi has embarked on an 80-hour tree-hugging challenge, not for records or bragging rights, but to raise cancer awareness — a cause that urgently needs more than thoughts and prayers.

And the statistics? They are not hugging us back.

Meru reportedly leads in cancer cases across the country and even East Africa. Out of every 20 cancer patients referred to Kenyatta National Hospital, 8 come from Meru. That’s not just a statistic — that’s a loud alarm bell ringing while we argue about who should answer the phone.

As crowds gather at Makutano, cheering on the Apostle as he hugs the tree with unwavering commitment — and fluently answers cancer-related questions like it’s a live pop quiz — one thing becomes painfully clear: awareness matters, and silence is expensive.

Whether you believe in miracles, medicine, or both, there’s no denying that more must be done to confront this disease that continues to ravage families across Meru County.

Here in Meru, we salute Apostle Dennis Murimi — not just for hugging a tree, but for shaking us awake. We hope the world notices, listens, and acts, because cancer certainly isn’t waiting.

Sometimes, change begins with a hug. Even if it’s a tree.


About the Author

Felix Kinyua is a Kenyan writer and commentator with a keen eye for social issues, a love for satire, and an unshakable belief that conversations — even humorous ones — can spark real change. When not writing, Felix observes society, asks uncomfortable questions, and occasionally hugs ideas until they make sense.

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