[LIST] 10 Kenyans Who Made It Into the Guinness World Records

[LIST] 10 Kenyans Who Made It Into the Guinness World Records

Guinness World Records is one of the individual achievements that frequently unify a country, and Kenya is fortunate to have ten people on the famous list.

Guinness World Records, founded in the 1950s, is an organization that keeps verifiable world records for both human accomplishments and natural extremes.

The first book was released in London in 1955, eight years before Kenya’s independence.

Since then, some noteworthy Kenyans have achieved global fame through sports and other endeavors.

Eliud Kipchoge

Eliud Kipchoge, widely regarded as the greatest marathon runner of all time, became the first athlete to complete a marathon in under two hours in 2019’s unofficial INEOS 1:59 Challenge.

Guinness World Records recognized this performance with the title ‘First marathon distance run in under two hours’.

The record is, however, not recognised by World Athletics since it involved special arrangements and Kipchoge was not facing any competition.

Widely regarded as the greatest marathon runner of all time, Kipchoge was 34 years old when he achieved the sub-two-hour feat.

He has won multiple Olympic gold medals and previously held the official marathon world record, which he set at 37 years old in 2022.

He hung up his boots at the age of 41 after completing the New York Marathon in November to complete the Abbott Seven Marathons.

Kimani Ng’ang’a Maruge

Kimani Ng’ang’a Maruge holds the Guinness World Record as the oldest individual to start primary school.

Born around 1920, Maruge was a veteran of the Mau Mau Uprising against British colonial rule in the 1950s.

He was a widower and a great-grandfather with 30 grandchildren, two of whom were students at the same school he attended. He lived his early life without a formal education.

He enrolled in Standard One at Kapkenduiywo Primary School in Eldoret on January 12, 2004, at the age of 84.

Despite initial scepticism from some community members, he was an exemplary student, was elected class head boy in 2005, and reportedly passed his exams with flying colours.

His story inspired people worldwide and led him to travel to New York City in September 2005 to address the United Nations 2005 World Summit on the importance of free primary education for all.

His life was later the subject of a critically acclaimed British-produced film released in 2011, titled The First Grader. He passed away on 15 August 2009, aged 90.

David Rudisha

David Rudisha, a middle-distance legend, also holds the men’s 800-metre world record of 1:40.91, set at the London 2012 Olympics.

This performance is considered one of the greatest Olympic track moments.

Rudisha is an Olympic double gold medallist born in Kilgoris. He was 23 years old when he set his standing world record in London.

Tegla Lorupé

Tegla Lorupe, a retired athlete, now holds three world records, including the fastest female timings over 20,000m, 25,000m, and 30,000m.

Guinness world records broken by Kenya.

1. Kimani Maruge- Oldest man to embark on the journey of primary education at age of 84 years pic.twitter.com/MCb7L1sLen

— landoo (@landoo254) December 15, 2023

She also previously held the marathon world record, being the first African woman to accomplish so.

A renowned long-distance runner, humanitarian, and peace advocate.

She made history in 1994 as the first African woman to win the New York City Marathon and was in her late teens/early twenties when setting many of her records. 

Other Kenyan athletes who have broken world records include Daniel Komen, who set the 3,000-metre world record in 1996; and Paul Kosgei, who broke the 25-kilometre world record in 2004.

Additionally, Hillary Kimaiyo also set the 10-kilometre road race world record in 2009, and the late Samuel Wanjiru broke the half-marathon world record in 2007.

Truphena Muthoni

Truphena Muthoni, an environmental activist, is the latest entrant, having been officially verified by Guinness World Records for hugging a tree for 48 hours as part of an environmental conservation and climate awareness campaign.

The feat was attempted earlier this year, and she is once again in the global spotlight after breaking her own tree-hugging record with a 72-hour attempt, pending official confirmation.

Truphena Muthoni's tree hugging record attempt this week in Kenya, inspired by "a deep-rooted passion for trees and the vital role they play in our ecosystem" has in turn inspired many comments on our social channels.

We know Truphena's fans are excited to hear the results and…

— Guinness World Records (@GWR) December 12, 2025

In a statement on December 1, 2025, the organisation recognised her achievements and assured that it is currently scrutinising evidence to make it official.

Muthoni is among the individuals who have earned a place in the World Book of Records through their outstanding achievements in various sectors, including sports, education, and agriculture, among others.

Joseph Loves

Joseph Love once set a record for the most milk hand-milked in 24 hours.

In 1992, he milked 30 cows for 531 liters of milk in just 24 hours.

Faith Kipyegon

Faith Kipyegon is a legendary middle and long-distance runner, widely regarded as the best female 1500m runner of all time.

She is a multiple Olympic and World Champion who presently holds two official World Athletics records.

Nothing short of epic 🤩

Watch Faith Kipyegon storm to another 1500m world record 🤯

⏱️ 3:48.68#DiamondLeague pic.twitter.com/dYb5S1YcZb

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) July 5, 2025

Kipyegon has achieved an unprecedented three consecutive Olympic gold medals in the 1500 meters (2016, 2020, 2024) and four World Championship gold medals in the same event.

She is one of only eleven athletes to win world titles at the youth, junior, and senior levels.

In June 2025, Kipyegon participated in a special exhibition event organised by her sponsor, Nike, titled “Breaking4”, with the ambitious goal of becoming the first woman in history to run a mile in under four minutes.

The time trial was held on June 26, 2025, in Paris, featuring male and female pacers, advanced shoe technology, and aerodynamic gear designed to minimise wind resistance.

Kipyegon did not break the four-minute barrier but still ran a phenomenal time of 4:06.42 (an unofficial personal best faster than her official world record of 4:07.64).

The result was not ratified as an official world record by World Athletics due to the exhibition nature of the event and pacing setup.

She is in the Guinness World Records as the first and only woman to run the 1500 meters in under 3 minutes and 49 seconds after setting a new world record of 3:48.68 at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, on July 5, 2025.

Ali Khan Kazia

Alikhan Kazia holds many Guinness World Records for table tennis trick shots.

The Kenyan athlete is primarily known as a skilled table tennis player and a “trick shotter”.

He developed his skills after being inspired by viral trick shot videos during his first year of university.

Kazia currently holds three Guinness World Records titles, all achieved in Nairobi:

• Most ping pong balls bounced into a cup in one minute: He set the record with 17 balls, breaking the previous record of 12. He was 22 years old when this record was ratified in May 2021.
• Fastest time bouncing ping pong balls into five cups (individual): A test of speed and accuracy involving setting up and successfully bouncing a ball into five separate cups in sequence.
• Most table tennis serves into a cup in one minute: He achieved 13 successful serves into a cup in one minute, a record set on June 22, 2021. He was 22 years old at the time.

Maliha Mohamed

Maliha Mohammed is a Mombasa-based self-taught chef who specializes in fusion Swahili, Indian, and Middle Eastern cuisine.

She has made several attempts at the Guinness World Records, and in August 2019, she successfully broke the world record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual by cooking for 75 hours and 3 minutes non-stop.

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This surpassed the previous record of 68 hours and 30 minutes held by American chef Rickey Lumpkin II. She was 36 years old at the time of this achievement.

She made further attempts in 2023 to reclaim the ever-shifting “longest cooking marathon (individual)” title, which was eventually claimed by Alan Fisher.

Maliha currently holds the official Guinness World Record title for the Longest home kitchen cooking marathon (individual), which she achieved by cooking for 90 hours and 15 minutes in August 2023.

In a later attempt to surpass Alan Fisher’s main individual record, she cooked for over 150 hours in November 2023 but was disqualified due to an error in managing her rest breaks, highlighting the strict GWR rules.

[LIST] 10 Kenyans Who Made It Into the Guinness World Records