The error that cost Chef Maliha the cooking Guinness World Records
After months of waiting for the Guinness World Records (GWR) for the longest solo cooking session to be ratified, Coastal-based Kenyan chef Maliha Mohammed has suffered a setback.
Chef Maliha has revealed that she has been disqualified due to a mistake.
In an update shared on social media, Maliha said she was heartbroken to be disqualified by GWR, who informed her of her disqualification.
According to GWR, additional minutes were taken during the attempt at rest break sequence 7 that were not accumulated.
They said that it is not permitted to make up rest breaks as they can only be accumulated.
“In the interests of fairness to all candidates, we can only approve a record if all guidelines have been fully complied with. We appreciate that this is disappointing news, but hope that it will not deter you from applying for a record in the future,” the GWR said in its announcement.
After receiving the heartbreaking news, Maliha asked for forgiveness from her fans who had been waiting for the record, adding that she believes God has other plans for her.
She added that she was disqualified after failing to follow certain guidelines.
“Hey guys. It is with great sadness that I inform my family, friends, fans, sponsors, followers and everyone who showed love and support for my journey in the November cooking marathon,” she said on her Instagram page.
“On the advice of my manager, I need to let you know that I have been disqualified due to a mistake I made during my break. I am not well at the moment. I ask for your forgiveness for letting you all down. It wasn’t easy.
On November 19, 2023, Maliha attempted to win the Longest Cooking Marathon (Individual) award after clocking 150 hours and 11 seconds, breaking the previous record of 119 hours, 57 minutes and 16 seconds set by Irishman Alan Fisher on November 7, 2023.
She prepared more than 400 local and international recipes, including coconut beans, fried fish, mandazis, mukimo, githeri and international cuisines such as Indian biryani and chapatti.
She also cooked Portuguese chicken peri peri and more than 10 different types of pizza.
Speaking after the GWR attempt, Maliha said she endured six gruelling days that tested her mental and physical strength to the limit. During this time, every second felt like an eternity, but also an opportunity to push yourself beyond your limits.
“Embarking on this journey has undoubtedly been one of the most challenging and fulfilling undertakings of my career. It has not only been a personal triumph, but a celebration of the resilience that lies within each of us. It has been a journey and a labour of love for Kenyans from all walks of life,” she said at the time.
The record was due to be confirmed in two weeks after Guinness World Records authenticated the images and videos, but she was never heard from again.
She is no stranger to pushing culinary boundaries. In her first attempt, she lasted an impressive 90 hours and 15 minutes, breaking the previous record of 68 hours, 30 minutes and 1 second.
She was named Woman of the Year in 2021 at the Kenya Women Tourism Awards and has been honoured as one of the 100 most influential Kenyan Muslims, an award given by the Muslim Media Company.