From tree-hugging to hand-milking: Kenyan feats that earned Guinness World Records

Kenya has made its mark in the Guinness World Records with a variety of unique and sometimes quirky achievements, showcasing the creativity, endurance, and determination of its people.

Beyond these, Kenyans have also shown that even the most unusual challenges can put the country on the global stage, blending talent, skill, and commitment.

Here are some of the challenges that have earned Guinness World Records.

Tree-hugging challenge

The tree-hugging marathon is Kenya’s latest Guinness World Record, with the environmental activist Truphena Muthoni officially recognised for the longest marathon tree hug after embracing a single tree nonstop for 72 hours.

“The record was first broken in 2024 by Faith Patricia Ariokot (Uganda) with a time of 16 hr 6 sec. Abdul Hakim Awal (Ghana) broke it in 2024 with 24 hr 21 min 4 sec, and Truphena first came along in February 2025 to take the title with a total of 48 hr,” the statement said.

Truphena, they noted, first broke the record in February 2025, hugging a tree for 48 hours, before briefly losing it to Frederick Boakye of Ghana, who completed 50 hours and two minutes, only for Truphena to reclaim it with her 72-hour effort.

“Frederick Boakye (Ghana) very briefly held the record with a time of 50 hr 2 min 28 sec, before Truphena took it back with her record-shattering time,” the GWR statement read in part.

Most milk hand-milked

Kenya’s record for the most milk extracted by hand in 24 hours was set by Joseph Love of Kilifi Plantations Ltd.

On August 25, 1992, he milked 30 cows by hand, producing a total of 531 litres (117 gallons), breaking the Guinness World Record.

“Most milk extracted from cows by hand in 24 hours. Joseph Love of Kilifi Plantations Ltd, Kenya milked 531litres (117gal) from 30 cows on August 25, 1992,” the GWR statement reads.

Oldest pupil

The world’s oldest person to begin primary school was 84-year-old Kenyan Kimani Ng’ang’a Maruge. He enrolled in Standard One at Kapkenduiyo Primary School in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, on January 12, 2004.

He wanted to take advantage of free education for two reasons: to learn to count money and for literacy, so he could read the Bible.

Maruge passed away on August 15, 2009, aged 90.

Fastest marathon

Kelvin Kiptum has broken the fastest marathon world record after registering a time of 2 hr 35 sec at the 2023 Chicago Marathon.

The 23-year-old Kenyan runner shaved 34 seconds off the previous record of 2 hr 1 min 9 sec, which was set by his compatriot Eliud Kipchoge at the 2022 Berlin Marathon.

Kiptum completed the first half of the race slightly behind Kipchoge’s world record pace, but he made up for it by rapidly running the second half marathon in under an hour.

2-hour marathon record

Eliud Kipchoge has made history after setting a new fastest marathon time of 2 hours, 1 minute and 39 seconds at the BMW Berlin Marathon.

The 33-year-old shaved more than a minute off of the previous marathon world record of 2:02:57, which was set by fellow Kenyan Dennis Kimetto four years ago, also in Berlin.

“His amazing achievement on Sunday (16 September) of course, means he now holds the Guinness World Records title for Fastest marathon (male), as well as the Fastest time to run the Berlin marathon (male),” the GWR statement reads.

“Kipchoge’s fantastic time means the elusive sub-two hour marathon is now within tantalising reach.”

Fastest 800m

David Rudisha won the Olympic 800m final at the London Olympic Stadium on August 9, 2012, clocking 1 minute 40.91 seconds and breaking his own world record in the event.

At London 2012, Rudisha broke his own world record of 1 min 41.01 sec, set at the World Championships in Rieti, Italy, on 29 August 2010. He has now set the three fastest 800 m times in history, and six of the fastest eight times belong to the Kenyan.

Rudisha’s 800 m run was the first world record set on the track at the Olympic Stadium at London 2012.

Fastest 1500m run

The record for the most World Athletics Championships gold medals in the women’s 1,500m is four, held by Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon, who won in 2017, 2022, 2023, and 2025.

Kipyegon won her fourth world championship 1,500 m title on 16 September 2025, finishing almost three seconds ahead of second place in Tokyo, Japan. It was her seventh global title over the distance, together with her three Olympic gold medals.

Fastest 5,000m run

The fastest women’s 5,000 metres is 13 minutes 58.06 seconds, set by Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet in Eugene, Oregon, USA, on 5 July 2025.

At the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League meeting in Eugene, Beatrice Chebet became the first woman to break the 14 minute barrier for the 5,000 m.