Kenyan chef aiming to cook for 75 hours to break Guinness World Record

The Mombasa-based Chef Maliha Mohammed, who is aiming to cook for 75 hours non-stop to break the current Guinness World Record, which is being currently held by Rickey Lumpkin from California, USA who cooked for 68 hours 30 minutes and one second in December 2018. [Courtesy]

If all goes according to plan, a Kenyan chef will have her name immortalised in the Guinness Book of World Records.

But to do this, Chef Maliha Mohammed must go on an hours-long, non-stop cookout to beat the current world record which stands at 68 hours.

The 36-year-old from Mombasa believes her magic number for her attempt at the world record will be 75 hours. If she does this, she will dethrone current record holder Rickey Lumpkin of California, USA, who cooked for 68 hours 30 minutes and one second in December 2018. “I will be looking to cook a mix of dishes, including local and international cuisines. I must showcase what Kenya has to offer, especially Swahili dishes,” Maliha said.

She is self-taught and currently works as a chef for a leading non-governmental organisation based in Mombasa.

The Guinness Book of World Records is a reference book published annually, listing world records of human achievements and the extremes of the natural world.

Bringing it home

Her assault at the record got sponsorship from Pwani Oil, who will cater for all her expenses in the competition that will take place in August 2019.

“We are excited to be part of Chef Maliha’s journey to break the Guinness World Record and bring the title to Kenya. It is our hope that the support we give helps her realise her potential as a chef,” said Rajul Malde, Pwani Oil’s commercial director.

Pwani Oil will help cover chef Maliha’s costs, including charges to be paid to Guinness World Record, equipment required, food to be prepared, her team’s recruitment and coordination and support like doctors, timekeepers, cameramen and technicians.

“I am looking forward to breaking this world record and have been investing my own resources to bring this record home, and more so to Mombasa,” said Chef Maliha.