Samson Lemayan and Lydia Simiyu Crowned Winners of 2026 Lewa Safari Marathon

Samson Lemayan and Lydia Simiyu have won the men’s and women’s 42-kilometre races at the 26th Lewa Safari Marathon at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Isiolo County.

The event, which took place on Saturday, June 27 2026, was sponsored by Safaricom and Huawei, alongside partners including Amref Health Africa, Kenya Red Cross, Atlas Towers, Safari Link, ICEA Lion, and Tropical Heat.

Lemayan, a ranger at Samburu National Reserve, defended his men’s title in 2:27:04. Victor Miano was second in 2:28:08, and Nehemiah Kimaru finished third in 2:32:38.

Lemayan, Simiyu Shine in Lewa Safari Marathon 42km Race

Speaking after the race, Lemayan said retaining the title was a proud moment after months of preparation.

“This is my third year participating in this race and my second time winning it. The course is tougher than many other marathons because of the terrain, so defending my title means a lot as I prepare for future races,” he said.

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In the women’s race, Lydia Simiyu, a Kenya Wildlife Service officer from Kitale, claimed victory on her debut after clocking 2:50:39. Lydia Nyansikera finished second in 2:56:41, while Gladys Otero placed third in 3:07:40.

Simiyu described the victory as a major milestone in her athletics career.

“This is my first Lewa Safari Marathon, and winning it is a dream come true. I have always wanted to compete here because it supports wildlife conservation and local communities. I thank the organisers and sponsors, including Safaricom, for making the event a success,” she said.

Cash Prizes Awarded to Top Participants

In the 21-kilometre half-marathon, Michael Kamau and Mercy Nelima won the men’s and women’s titles after posting times of 1:06:36 and 1:19:02, respectively.

Justine Lelintan and Doreen Kendi finished second, while Simon Saidimu and Caroline Waithira secured third place in their respective categories.

The Executive 10-kilometre race was won by Wilson Moyer and Jessica Baillie.

Winners of both the 42km and 21km races received Ksh150,000, while first runners-up earned Ksh 80,000 and second runners-up took home Ksh 60,000.

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This year’s Lewa Safari Marathon attracted more than 1,400 participants from Kenya and across the world.

M-PESA Foundation Trustee Michael Joseph said the event has, for 26 years, supported both wildlife conservation and community development.

“Twenty-six years of supporting this marathon reflect our commitment to creating lasting impact beyond conservation. We thank our sponsors, partners, and participants for making this year’s event a success,” he said.

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy CEO Rob Macaire said the marathon continues to support conservation, education, healthcare, and sustainable livelihoods for communities living near the conservancy.

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Over 1400 runners and walkers from Kenya and abroad took part in the race inside Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. Credits Lewa Safari Marathon FB