Chef Maliha fights to make history with her 150-hour cooking challenge

Chef Maliha Mohammed during her cooking challenge.

Kenyan chef Maliha Mohammed is fighting to set a new Guinness World Record for the longest solo cooking session.

The culinary star aims to cook for 150 hours non-stop, surpassing the current record of 119 hours and 57 minutes held by Irish chef Alan Fisher.

Maliha started her challenge on Thursday, November 16, at 8 a.m. at Proto Energy headquarters in Nairobi.

She has been cooking a variety of dishes, from local delicacies to international cuisines, and sharing them with the attendees for free.

She is not allowed to sit, sleep, or consume any stimulants during the marathon. She only gets five minutes of rest per hour, which she can accumulate to take a longer break.

As of Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at 2:45 pm, Maliha had clocked 140 hours of cooking, breaking the previous record by more than 20 hours.

However, she is determined to continue until she reaches her target of 150 hours, which would be a remarkable feat of endurance and passion.

"I'm not just doing this for myself, but for my country and my continent. I want to show the world that we have amazing talent and potential in Africa. I also want to inspire young people to pursue their dreams and never give up," said Maliha.

Sea Gas, a leading cooking gas brand in the country, is supporting Maliha in her quest to make history.

The company is facilitating the verification process by the Guinness World Records team, which is expected to take five days.

The firm is also providing Maliha with cooking equipment, ingredients and moral support.

"We are proud to be part of this incredible journey with Chef Maliha. She is a true embodiment of our brand values of excellence, innovation, and resilience. She is also a role model for many young Kenyans who aspire to achieve greatness in their fields. We congratulate her on breaking the record and wish her all the best as she goes for 150 hours," said Amanda Donahue, CEO, Proto Energy, the parent company of Sea Gas.

Maliha has also received overwhelming support from her fans and followers on social media, who have been cheering her on and sending her messages of encouragement.

"Thank you for all the love and support. You are the reason I keep going. Please come and join me at the Sarit Centre or watch me online. Let's make history together, said Maliha.

Maliha is no stranger to breaking records. In August 2023, she completed a 90-hour and 15-minute home kitchen cooking marathon, beating the previous record held by Rickey Lumpkin II from Los Angeles, California.