By KPC Sports Reporter
Seasoned athlete Mercy Kwambai and Samson Lemayan claimed top honours at the 25th edition of the Lewa Safari Marathon, held Saturday at the breathtaking Lewa Conservancy.
Thirty-six-year-old Kwambai, a mother of two, defended her women’s 42km title in commanding fashion, clocking 2:47:17.
This marks her second consecutive victory and third appearance at the event. She debuted in 2022, finishing second in the half marathon.
“The course was tough and hot, especially with the hilly stretches, but consistent training paid off,” Kwambai said.
“It’s not just about winning—it’s about giving back. This race has a real impact on our communities.”
Evaline Lagat (3:02:31) and Monica Watetu (3:20:21) secured second and third places, respectively.
In the men’s 42km race, Lemayan emerged triumphant with a time of 2:28:35.
The athlete, who first attempted the event in 2018 without much success, demonstrated remarkable resilience to outpace John Musee (2:29:18) and Joseph Kariuki (2:29:36).
“Coming back to win feels surreal,” Lemayan said.
“Seeing how the marathon has grown—and its effect on conservation and local livelihoods—is inspiring. Kudos to the organizers and sponsors like Safaricom for making it happen.”
In the 21km categories, Michael Kamau topped the men’s field in 1:06:37, followed by Justine Lelitan (1:07:48) and Simon Saidimu (1:08:07).
For the women, Mary Waithera shone brightest, finishing in 1:18:27, trailed by Pauline Ngigi (1:28:21) and Susan Wanjiru (1:29:04).
The 10km corporate run crowned Reuben Ng’ang’a, and Sara Van Der Laan as the men’s and women’s winners respectively.
Prize money of KES 150,000 was awarded to winners of the 42km and 21km races, with first and second runners-up pocketing KES 80,000 and KES 60,000 respectively.
Safaricom CEO Dr. Peter Ndegwa said, “For 25 years, this event has been a beacon of purpose—supporting conservation and transforming lives.”
Over 1,400 runners, both local and international, took part in this year’s race.
Since its inception, the marathon has raised more than $9 million in support of wildlife conservation.
“At a time when our planet faces grave environmental threats, this race reaffirms our shared duty to protect nature,” said Mike Watson, CEO of the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.
“Participants didn’t just challenge themselves—they helped secure a future for our wildlife and our people.”
The marathon was sponsored by Safaricom and Huawei, alongside Access Bank, ICEA Lion, Highlands, AMREF, Elewana, Safarilink, GardaWorld, Tropical Heat, and African Originals.