Kenyan Teacher Breaks Guinness World Record with 45-Hour Math Marathon.
Menengai High School mathematics teacher Fenwick Cyril Maloba has completed a 45-hour continuous mathematics teaching marathon, surpassing the existing Guinness World Record for the longest continuous mathematics lesson.
Maloba commenced the record attempt on Friday at 8:00 a.m. under the theme “Maths is not a monster; it’s a marathon.” The marathon concluded on Sunday morning after exactly 45 consecutive hours of teaching.
During the challenge, Maloba surpassed the previous Guinness World Record of 31 hours, 42 minutes and 54 seconds, which was set in April 2025 by Nigerian mathematician Sanusi Kazeem. The new achievement now awaits official verification and ratification by Guinness World Records.
The record attempt was undertaken as part of Maloba’s initiative to encourage positive attitudes towards mathematics and address learners’ fear of the subject through sustained classroom instruction.
Guinness World Records Compliance
The teaching marathon was conducted under the established verification requirements prescribed by Guinness World Records for endurance-based educational records.
The classroom was fitted with continuous high-definition audio and video recording equipment to document the entire session and provide uninterrupted evidence that active teaching was taking place throughout the challenge.
Independent witnesses were present throughout the event to document every stage of the marathon and verify compliance with the approved lesson plan and Guinness World Records regulations. The witnesses operated on rotating shifts to ensure continuous oversight during the entire event.
Students also attended the lessons in rotating groups to ensure the classroom remained occupied at all times. Under Guinness World Records requirements, one group of learners was required to enter the classroom before another group departed, ensuring uninterrupted teaching throughout the 45-hour session.
Break Allocation Under Guinness World Records Rules
Under Guinness World Records endurance regulations, participants are permitted a five-minute break for every completed hour of continuous activity. The allocated breaks may be accumulated and used at the participant’s discretion.
The accumulated break periods represent the only time during which participants may eat, rest, sleep or visit the washroom.
Beryl Onyango, a chemistry teacher at Bahati Girls High School and one of the independent witnesses, confirmed that Maloba strategically managed his allocated break time during the challenge.
“He took his first break after four hours, meaning he had accumulated 20 minutes. However, he used only nine minutes, so he has saved 11 minutes for when he may need them most,” Onyango said.
Participant Experience
Among those who attended the mathematics lessons was Elizabeth Njoki, who described the classroom sessions as engaging.
“As someone who left high school almost 20 years ago, I never imagined I would enjoy mathematics this much. The teacher made everything so easy,” she said.
Preparations Before the Record Attempt
Preparations for the marathon began several weeks before the official record attempt.
Nutritionist Lilian Mutugi stated that Maloba followed a structured preparation programme involving nutritional planning, physical conditioning and intensive academic preparation.
According to Mutugi, the preparation included developing detailed lesson plans, revising mathematical concepts and sourcing instructional materials while simultaneously building the physical stamina required for prolonged teaching.
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“He has spent the last two weeks preparing his body and mind to build physical stamina, alongside intense paperwork, lesson planning, and sourcing equations late into the night. He is a very focused person who always works to get what he wants,” Mutugi said.
Awaiting Guinness World Records Ratification
Following completion of the 45-hour mathematics teaching marathon, all supporting documentation, including continuous audio-visual recordings, witness statements and event records, is expected to be submitted to Guinness World Records for review.
The achievement will become an official Guinness World Record upon completion of the organization’s verification and ratification process.
Kenyan Teacher Breaks Guinness World Record with 45-Hour Math Marathon.
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