Image by: Nairobi Wire
A 23‑year‑old woman in Bungoma has launched a 74‑hour tree‑hugging protest. Her name is Flora Onyango. She is from Mbakalo Ward in Tongaren Constituency. She says the protest highlights what she calls rampant corruption in Kenya.
Onyango is hugging a tree along the railway line opposite Posta Grounds in Bungoma town. She plans to stay there for three days. She says she will not eat or drink during the entire challenge. She believes the protest will push leaders to take corruption seriously.
She travelled from Nairobi to Bungoma to make the protest more meaningful. Her challenge began at 1:04 p.m. on Monday. It is expected to end at the same time on Thursday. She has assigned someone to monitor and record the time. Her family knows her location and her plan.
Onyango is part of a growing trend in Kenya. Tree‑hugging protests have gone viral. Truphena Muthoni set a 72‑hour record last year. A Murang’a pastor, James Irungu, later hit 79 hours. He collapsed an hour before reaching his 80‑hour target.
Onyango hopes her challenge will spark national dialogue. She says Kenya needs stronger action against graft. She also wants oversight agencies to do more.
Sources:
Also Read:
About the Author
