Mbeere North Man Hits 90-Hour Tree Hugging to Demand Development From Govt

Eric Munene of Ciambugu, Mbeere North, clings to a tree in a 90-hour protest. MWINGI TIMES |Brian Musyoka

Munene began the risky mission on Thursday last week at exactly 5pm, hugging a towering tree at the heart of Ciambugu market and vowing not to suspend the mission until the government listens to the cries of his community.

His demands were a proper health facilities, tarmac roads, and reliable water supply  services he says have been denied to the people of Ciambugu for far too long.

As hours turned into days, what started as a lone act of bravery quickly transformed into a powerful symbol of resistance and hope, drawing crowds from across Mbeere North and beyond.

Many had initially doubted whether Munene could survive even a single night on the tree, but he defied all expectations, enduring harsh sun, cold nights, hunger and physical exhaustion.

Traders abandoned their stalls and business in Ciambugu market nearly came to a halt as residents gathered below the tree to cheer him on, pray for him, and stand in solidarity.

Mothers brought their children, elders offered blessings, and youths kept vigil, turning the market into a living protest site driven by unity and shared frustration.

On Monday, 12th January 2025, Munene finally hit the 90-hour mark, triggering emotional scenes as the crowd erupted in applause, ululation and tears, celebrating a man who had pushed his body to the limit for the sake of his people.

Bancy Karimi, the wife of Eric Munene, described her husband as a determined go-getter who never gives up once he sets his mind on something. She revealed that before he began the daring 90-hour tree protest, she asked him whether he was sure he could complete it. “I asked him if he would really manage all those hours up there, and he confidently told me, "I will do it,"Bancy said.

Munene’s mother, Consolata Macharia, emotionally linked her son’s protest to a painful family experience. She recalled how Munene’s wife had to travel many kilometres to Embu Level Five Hospital to give birth because Ciambugu and the larger Nthawa area have no health facility. “My daughter-in-law delivered her baby at Embu Level Five Hospital because there is no hospital here in Ciambugu,” Consolata said adding that is why her son decided to take the bold step.

Consolata added that the long distance and poor roads make it difficult for expectant mothers and the sick to access timely medical care. “When someone falls ill here, they have to be rushed far away, and sometimes it becomes a matter of life and death,” she said, noting that Munene’s action was meant to highlight the daily struggles of ordinary families in the area.

Residents of Ciambugu and the wider Nthawa region have since praised Munene for standing up for the community. Many locals said his sacrifice had given voice to their long-standing grievances. “ Munene has spoken for all of us,"said Nebert Mugo.

Munene hopes his extreme action will now force the authorities to confront the reality facing Ciambugu residents. "We are not asking for luxury. We are asking for a health centre so that our people don’t die on the way to hospital, for roads so our produce can reach markets, and for water so our families can live with dignity,” he said.

His protest has since ignited fresh debate on how far citizens should go to be heard, and whether such dramatic acts are the only way marginalized communities can attract government attention.

Munene’s act joins a growing list of extraordinary public protests in Kenya, where citizens have in the past chained themselves to buildings, gone on hunger strikes, or camped outside government offices to demand justice and development.

As the dust settles in Ciambugu, the big question remains whether Munene’s 90-hour sacrifice will translate into real change or become yet another powerful cry in the long struggle for dignity and development.