In November 2023, popular Kenyan chef Maliha Mohammed embarked on her second attempt to break the Guinness World Record (GWR) for the Longest Cooking Marathon by an Individual. With determination, Maliha began her marathon cooking session, aiming to surpass the existing record of 119 hours, 57 minutes, and 16 seconds set by Ireland’s Alan Fisher.
Enduring 150 hours of continuous cooking, Maliha achieved her goal, surpassing her own previous record of 90 hours and 15 minutes set in 2019. However, despite her accomplishment, Maliha’s victory celebration was short-lived as her attempt faced disqualification by GWR.
Taking to social media on Saturday, April 13, Maliha revealed that she was disqualified due to a single error made during her rest break. GWR cited the inclusion of additional minutes during her rest period, which were not eligible for accumulation, as the reason for her disqualification.
“It is with much sadness to inform my family, friends, fans, sponsors, followers, and everyone who showed love and support towards my journey in November cooking marathon. Upon my manager’s advice, I have to let you know I was disqualified for 1 error made during my rest break. I am not okay right now. I ask for your forgiveness to have let you all down . It wasn’t easy, but I know God has other plans for me in shaa Allah because what’s meant for you will simply find you,” Maliha announced.
Maliha had aspired to break Fisher’s record achieved in Matsue, Shimane, Japan, from September 28 to October 3, 2023, where he cooked for 119 hours, 57 minutes, and 16 seconds. Fisher had previously dethroned Nigeria’s Hilda Baci, who held the record for cooking for 93 hours and 11 minutes.
During Maliha’s marathon cooking session, she encountered a health scare, briefly fainting at one point. Emergency teams swiftly attended to her, and footage shared by her team showed Maliha being cared for by medical personnel while lying on a stretcher.
