NAKURU, Kenya — Nakuru teacher Fenwick Malobah is set to attempt a Guinness World Record for the longest individual mathematics lesson, starting at 8 a.m. on Friday, January 30, 2026.
The lesson, scheduled to run for 45 continuous hours, will be held at Menengai High School and is open to students, parents, educators, and the public.
“I will be participating in a Guinness World Record attempt for the Longest Marathon Mathematics Lesson (Individual). I’m taking on this 45-hour challenge to prove that ‘Maths is not a monster; it’s a marathon.’ If I can teach it for 45 hours straight, anyone can learn it for life,” Malobah said.
The current Guinness World Record for the longest mathematics lesson is 31 hours, 42 minutes, and 54 seconds, set by Nigerian student Sanusi Kazeem at the University of Ilorin in April 2025. More recently, Emmanuel Onyegu of Utah State University completed a 40-hour continuous lesson in November 2025, which is under review by Guinness World Records. Malobah’s 45-hour attempt, if successful, would surpass both records.
Kenya’s legacy in educational marathons
Kenya has a history of breaking educational marathon records. In February 2024, Rose Tata Wekesa of St Austin’s Academy in Nairobi set the record for the longest science lesson, teaching chemistry, physics, and biology for 62 hours, 33 minutes, and 34 seconds at Multimedia University.
Other notable Kenyan record holders include Truphena Muthoni, who spent 72 hours hugging a tree in Nyeri, and Chef Maliha Mohammed, who completed a 90-hour home kitchen cooking marathon.
The story of Kimani Ng’ang’a Maruge also remains inspirational. Enrolling in Class One at Kapkenduiywo Primary School in Eldoret at the age of 84, he later became head boy and addressed the United Nations on free education.
Health and safety considerations
In January 2026, the Ministry of Health issued a directive mandating medical clearance for anyone attempting strenuous Guinness World Record feats. Extended endurance activities, the ministry noted, carry risks including dehydration, extreme fatigue, and potential collapse, citing recent incidents of participants being hospitalised during marathon challenges.
Screenings for blood pressure, blood sugar, haemoglobin, and heart rhythm are required, alongside proper training and preparation.
Guinness World Records rules allow only short, regulated breaks for rest and refreshment. All teaching activities during Malobah’s attempt will be closely documented, verified by independent witnesses, and recorded on video for authenticity.
The attempt highlights both Kenya’s emerging presence in educational record-breaking and the growing recognition of mathematics as a subject to engage, inspire, and challenge students over extended periods.
