Kitale town witnessed an unusual drama when a man attempting to hug a tree for 120 hours was chased away by residents.
The man was undertaking the challenge to raise awareness for students in Kenya who lack school fees, according to a video seen online by TNX Africa.
His daughter had reportedly been sent home from school due to unpaid fees, leaving him feeling desperate.
Armed with a poster, the man hugged the tree tightly, vowing not to let go until he received help.
"So nitakuwa hapa masaa mia moja ishirini. Nafanya kwa ajili ya mtoto wangu na Watoto wengine," he declared.
Saboti Constituency MP Caleb Amisi intervened after being informed of the man’s struggle.
He offered Sh53,000 in cash to cover school fees and promised to personally meet the principal to clear any remaining arrears.
"Hii ni Sh.53,000. Nataka niende na wewe na mtoto na nicommit mimi mwenyewe kwa principal nitalipa yote," MP Amisi said.
Surprisingly, the man rejected the money, insisting it wasn’t what he wanted.
The MP expressed disappointment, suggesting that some individuals were now using the tree-hugging challenge to con Kenyans.
"Kitu nimerealize, hii mambo ya kushika mti imekuwa con game. Nimekuletea pesa, mtoto aende shule, mzazi anasema ata ukinipa pesa sitatoka hapa," Amisi explained.
He further revealed that two men were standing behind the father, signaling him to avoid answering questions.
"Nyuma yake kuna vijana watatu wananifanyia macho hivi (winking). Wananikondolea macho wakiwink ili nisiendelee kuuliza maswali nyingi," the MP added.
The father’s refusal angered local residents, many of whom turned against him for prioritizing a dramatic protest over a practical solution.
In a video trending on X, residents could be heard shouting, “Uyu ujamaa ni wapi. Achilia mti uende.”
The incident sparked debate online.
Cavin on X commented, “The guy is right, what's 53k? After one term or two, he'll be back to nothing. The MP should have sponsored the child fully all through school!”
Another user, El Navi, questioned, “Heri angechukua pesa, that was the whole point, isn’t it? To get funds, and now that it has arrived earlier than he anticipated, he rejects it?”
Lucky Griffin added humorously, “Never a dull day in Kenya.”
Tree-hugging challenges have become increasingly popular in Kenya since environmentalist Truphena Muthoni set a Guinness World Record for hugging a tree for 48 hours.
President William Ruto honored her with the Head of State Commendation (HSC) Medal and appointed her ambassador for the 15 billion Tree Planting Campaign, among other accolades.