A 62-year-old man from Meru County named Simon Maraurau has been exposed for faking a 90-hour tree-hugging challenge. What started as a claimed protest against elephant invasions and drought turned out to be a con when a video showed him taking breaks to smoke and sit away from the tree.
The footage surfaced on January 16, 2026, and quickly spread across social media, leading to widespread mockery and questions about his motives.
Maraurau, from Naari Nchiigi village in Buuri constituency, began the stunt on January 13, 2026. He said it was to highlight how elephants destroy farms and prolonged dry spells hurt local people. Reports at first praised his effort. He seemed to hug the tree without stopping for three days.
Crowds gathered to watch. Some brought him water. Media covered it as a unique way to raise awareness. He even got rushed to hospital after “completing” the challenge, looking weak and dehydrated.
But a short clip changed everything. It shows Maraurau seated on the ground, smoking a cigarette away from the tree. A friend records him. When someone approaches, the friend alerts him.
Maraurau stubs out the smoke and runs back to hug the tree again. He tells the friend to watch for people or media coming near. The video ends there, but it proves he took breaks during the claimed marathon.
Social media lit up right away. Posts called it a “long con” and laughed at how he fooled everyone. One user said, “We were played.” Another joked about “tree-nogometry”, mixing “tree” with “trigonometry” for the trickery.
Comments flooded platforms like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Many felt disappointed after supporting what seemed like a genuine protest. Some wondered if he aimed for fame or donations.
Maraurau responded publicly to the video, saying he just wanted the money. No one knows if he got much money from the stunt. Reports say residents celebrated his “effort” before the truth came out. He appeared weak after and went to hospital for checks. Doctors said he was okay, but the act might have taken a toll anyway.
The Buuri area deals with real problems like elephants raiding farms. Dry weather hurts crops too. Locals say protests like this draw attention, but fakes hurt the cause. Genuine activists worry people will doubt future efforts. One farmer told a local station the video makes light of serious issues.
Similar stunts have happened before for attention. Social media spreads them fast but also exposes lies quickly. Videos like this one come from bystanders who spot the trick.
Meru County leaders stayed quiet. The area has active community groups for wildlife and climate issues. They push for fences and water projects to help farmers.
Maraurau’s age added to the surprise. At 62, hugging a tree for days seemed tough but inspiring at first. Now it looks like a planned con with help from friends. The video keeps circulating. Views hit thousands. Comments mix laughs with calls for honesty. Some say forgive him if no harm is done. Others want him to explain.
