The 25th edition of the iconic Lewa Safari Marathon brought together more than 1,400 runners on Saturday, turning the scenic Lewa Wildlife Conservancy into a battleground of endurance, grit, and triumph.
Mercy Kwambai, a 36-year-old mother of two, made headlines in the weekend by successfully defending her title in the women’s 42km category for the second year in a row.
Kwambai crossed the finish line with a time of 2:47:17, edging out Evaline Lagat (3:02:31) and Monica Watetu (3:20:21), who came in second and third respectively.
“The course was quite hot and tough, with challenging hilly terrain, but thanks to good preparation and training, I managed to win. This is my third time participating in this event. I first came in 2022 and finished second in the half marathon,” said Kwambai.
She added: “The Lewa Marathon helps me prepare for future races, and I’m proud of the positive impact it creates in the community.”
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In the men’s 42km event, Samson Lemayan from Maralal rose to victory with a winning time of 2:28:35, earning his first-ever Lewa victory after years of trying.
John Musee (2:29:18) and Joseph Kariuki (2:29:36) followed closely in a race that tested mental strength as much as physical stamina.
“My first Lewa was in 2018, and I didn’t perform well. But today I’m proud to win,” said Lemayan.
He added: “This marathon has grown into something powerful. I want to appreciate the organizers and partners like Safaricom for making it such a meaningful event.”
In the men’s 21km race, Michael Kamau blazed through the finish line in 1:06:37, followed by Justine Lelitan (1:07:48) and Simon Saidimu (1:08:07).
The women’s 21km category saw Mary Waithera deliver a commanding triumph in 1:18:27, ahead of Pauline Ngigi (1:28:21) and Susan Wanjiru (1:29:04).
The 10km corporate challenge was not left behind, with Reuben Ng’ang’a and Sara Van Der Laan claiming top spots in the men’s and women’s races respectively.
Victors in both the 42km and 21km categories were each awarded Sh150,000, while the first and second runners-up walked away with Sh80,000 and Sh60,000 respectively.
Since its inception, the Lewa Safari Marathon has raised more than $9 million (Sh1.1 billion) for wildlife conservation and community development projects across northern Kenya.
Dr Peter Ndegwa, the CEO of Safaricom, a key sponsor of the event, reaffirmed the telco’s commitment to the cause: “We are proud of the impact the marathon has made over the past 25 years. It goes beyond sport; it supports conservation and transforms lives. We remain committed to this initiative for the long term.”
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy CEO Mike Watson praised participants for their resilience and the wider cause they support: “As we face growing threats to our environment, it’s critical that we act.”
He added: “Today’s participants challenged themselves and helped protect Kenya’s iconic wildlife. This is more than just a race, it’s a lifeline for conservation and local communities.”
The event was sponsored by Safaricom and Huawei backed by Access Bank, ICEA Lion, Highlands, AMREF, Elewana, Safarilink, GardaWorld, Tropical Heat, and African Originals.
Lewa Safari Marathon is held annually in one of Kenya’s most stunning wildlife conservancies and is globally recognized for combining elite sport with conservation.
For the first time, Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia also participated in the significant race as it sought to strengthen the spirit of connection across the East African borders.
Runners often race alongside zebras, giraffes, and elephants, all while raising funds for a better tomorrow.
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