Samson Lemayan and Lydia Simiyu won the men’s and women’s 42km races at the 26th Lewa Safari Marathon held on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Isiolo County, according to a statement issued by the organisers and sponsors.

Lemayan, a ranger at Samburu National Reserve, defended his men’s title after finishing in 2:27:04. He placed ahead of Victor Miano (2:28:08) and Nehemiah Kimaru (2:32:38). In the women’s race, 32-year-old Kenya Wildlife Service officer Simiyu, from Kitale in Trans Nzoia County, won in 2:50:39, followed by Lydia Nyansikera (2:56:41) and Gladys Otero (3:07:40).

Both the 42km and 21km category winners received KES 150,000 each, while first runners-up earned KES 80,000 and second runners-up KES 60,000, the statement said.

The Lewa Safari Marathon, now in its 26th year, is among Kenya’s high-profile endurance events that combines sports with conservation-linked fundraising at a time when corporate-backed events continue to play a growing role in financing community and environmental programmes in Northern Kenya.

“This is my third year participating in this race and my second time winning it. I have been preparing for this race since last year, and I am happy to have successfully defended my title. This Marathon is more challenging than many other races because of its tough terrain, so winning here means a lot to me as I continue preparing for upcoming races,” Lemayan said.

Simiyu said the win marked her first appearance at the event. “This is my first time participating in the Lewa Safari Marathon, and winning it is a major milestone in my athletics career. It is one of the races I have always wanted to compete in because of its impact on conservation and the surrounding communities, as well as its reputation as one of the toughest marathon courses. I would like to thank the organisers and sponsors, including Safaricom, for making this event such a success,” she said.

In the 21km half marathon, Michael Kamau won the men’s race in 1:06:36, while Mercy Nelima took the women’s title in 1:19:02. Justine Lelintan (1:07:59) and Doreen Kendi (1:23:09) were second, while Simon Saidimu (1:08:30) and Caroline Waithira (1:26:12) finished third in their respective categories. The Executive 10km winners were Wilson Moyer (men) and Jessica Baillie (women), organisers said.

Michael Joseph, an M-PESA Foundation Trustee, linked the event to longer-term corporate support. “Twenty-six years of supporting this marathon reflect our long-standing commitment to creating meaningful and lasting impact in communities, extending far beyond wildlife conservation. I would like to thank our fellow sponsors, partners, participants and everyone who contributed to the success of this year's event. We remain committed to supporting this noble cause and ensuring it continues to deliver even greater impact in the years ahead,” Joseph said.

Organisers said the 2026 edition attracted more than 1,400 participants from Kenya and abroad, a turnout that underscores the continued appeal of destination events to domestic and international runners, with potential spillovers for hospitality, transport and local supply chains in host regions.

Rob Macaire, CEO of Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, said the marathon’s focus goes beyond the race itself. “Today, we celebrate not only the achievements of those who crossed the finish line, but also the lasting impact this event continues to make through conservation, education, healthcare and sustainable livelihoods. Experiencing my first Lewa Safari Marathon as CEO has been both inspiring and humbling,” Macaire said.

The event was sponsored by Safaricom and Huawei, alongside partners including Amref Health Africa, Kenya Red Cross, Atlas Towers, Safari Link, ICEA Lions, and Tropical Heat, according to the statement. Organisers did not disclose the total amount raised, but said the marathon supports conservation and neighbouring communities, with future editions expected to continue relying on corporate sponsorship and participant turnout as key drivers.

Safaricom Plc said Emmanuel Ng’eno and Mbesa Kalondu won the men’s and women’s 21km races at the third edition of the Safaricom CEO Run held on Saturday at Karura Forest in Nairobi, as the telco steps up activity around conservation fundraising ahead of the Lewa Safari Marathon slated for June 27 at Lewa Conservancy in Isiolo County.

In a press release dated June 13, 2026, Safaricom said Ng’eno won the men’s 21km half-marathon in 1:24:47, ahead of Khamza Ahmed (1:40:59) and Antony Mwasaru (1:50:02). In the women’s race, Safaricom said Kalondu finished first in 2:08:11, with Shashu Damaris second (2:08:15) and Zion Versity third (2:09:35).

Safaricom said the Karura event attracted more than 500 participants, including staff, customers, running communities and corporate teams, and was organised in partnership with conservation charity Tusk to support fundraising for Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.

Kenyan corporates have increasingly used sporting events to mobilise brand communities and fundraise for social and environmental programmes, with runs and marathons becoming a recurring platform for corporate partnerships. For Safaricom, the CEO Run sits within a longer-running association with the Lewa Safari Marathon, which channels proceeds into conservation and community development initiatives at Lewa.

Ng’eno, the men’s winner, linked his participation to the event’s conservation purpose. “This is a special win for me, especially as it was my first time participating in the Safaricom CEO Run. While the course was challenging, it was rewarding to be part of an event that brings people together in support of a meaningful cause,” said Emmanuel Ng’eno, according to the press release.

Safaricom’s Group Chief People Officer Florence Nyokabi said participation remained strong in the third year at Karura Forest. “Today’s event was a great success, with more than 500 participants taking part. This is our third year hosting the race at Karura Forest, and I would like to thank all our staff, partners and friends who turned out in large numbers to support this noble cause,” said Florence Nyokabi, Group Chief People Officer at Safaricom Plc.

Safaricom said the event had four categories: 21km, 15km, 10km and a 5km fun walk. It reported that Adam Ahmed and Violet Okoti won the 15km race in 1:08:29 and 1:34:36 respectively, while Joshua Mucha and Hudlyn Hagoi won the 10km in 40:27 and 1:02:51. Joe Mwaniki and Mikhala Barasa won the men’s and women’s 5km races, Safaricom said.

Lewa Conservancy’s Chief Programmes and Partnerships Officer John Kinoti said the Karura race supports momentum for the main marathon. “This event plays an important role in building momentum for the Lewa Safari Marathon while highlighting the impact of conservation efforts,” said John Kinoti, Chief Programmes and Partnerships Officer at Lewa Conservancy, adding that preparations were nearly complete and the conservancy was looking forward to welcoming over 1,400 participants on June 27.

Beyond the immediate sporting calendar, the CEO Run provides a snapshot of how Kenya’s largest listed telecom continues to connect staff engagement and partner participation to its environmental and community agenda, while also maintaining visibility around flagship CSR-linked events that attract corporate teams from institutions such as KCB, Huawei and Amref, as cited by Safaricom.

Safaricom said it has supported the Lewa Safari Marathon since inception and earlier in 2026 announced a KES 10 million contribution (KES 10 million) towards the 26th edition. It also said the 2026 Lewa Safari Marathon is expected to host 1,500 participants across the 42km full marathon, 21km half marathon, 10km race and 5km children’s race.

Safaricom will hold the third edition of the Safaricom CEO Run on Saturday, 13 June, at Karura Forest in Nairobi, with more than 400 participants expected, the company said in a media statement dated 11 June 2026.

Safaricom said the event is organised in partnership with Tusk and serves as a build-up to the Lewa Safari Marathon, which is scheduled for 27 June. According to the statement, the run is designed to support fundraising for conservation and community development initiatives at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.

The company said participants will compete in four categories: a 21km half-marathon, 15km and 10km races, and a 5km walk.

In the statement, Safaricom Chief Executive Officer Peter Ndegwa linked the company’s involvement in the run to its broader support for the Lewa Safari Marathon. “Through our long-standing support of the Lewa Safari Marathon, we have witnessed firsthand how sport can transform lives by unlocking access to education, healthcare, and sustainable livelihoods for communities around Lewa,” Ndegwa said. He added that the Karura event brings together “partners, corporates, friends, and young people to participate, raise funds, and strengthen conservation efforts.”

Safaricom also highlighted its employee fundraising team, Lions of Lewa, which it said participates in the Lewa Safari Marathon and supports wildlife conservation and community development. The company said the group has, since 2019, ranked among the top fundraisers and raises more than KES 1.2 million annually.

Earlier in 2026, Safaricom announced a contribution of KES 10 million towards the 2026 Lewa Safari Marathon, according to the statement.

The company said the 2026 Lewa Safari Marathon is expected to attract more than 1,500 participants across multiple categories, including a 42km full marathon, 21km half marathon, 10km race and a 5km children’s race. However, the statement also noted that registration for the Lewa Safari Marathon is now closed.

For Kenya’s business landscape, Safaricom’s continued support for conservation-linked events reflects the growing use of corporate-backed sports and community initiatives as fundraising platforms, particularly for wildlife protection and community programmes that depend on private and philanthropic funding. The statement positions the CEO Run as an on-the-ground activation that complements sponsorship funding, including the KES 10 million contribution announced earlier in the year.

Safaricom cited long-term impact figures for the Lewa Safari Marathon, stating that since inception it has raised over KES 850 million to support conservation and community development across Kenya. More than KES 400 million of that, the company said, has gone towards protecting endangered species, wildlife habitats and surrounding ecosystems.

Looking ahead, the Karura Forest event will precede the main Lewa Safari Marathon on 27 June. Safaricom and partners are expected to use the CEO Run to rally corporate participation and fundraising momentum ahead of the Lewa event, which the company says draws a field of more than 1,500 participants.

Tusk and Lewa Wildlife Conservancy on March 24, 2026 launched the 26th edition of the Lewa Safari Marathon in Nairobi, opening entries for the June 27 race at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and setting a fundraising target of more than KSh15 million, according to organisers.

In a statement issued at the launch, the organisers said proceeds will be directed to wildlife protection as well as community needs such as health and schools. International entries are already open, with entries for Kenya and East Africa scheduled to open on March 27.

The Lewa Safari Marathon has raised KSh1.3 billion since its first edition in 2000, according to the organisers. They said funds have supported conservation initiatives linked to improved outcomes for species including Hawksbill turtles, Grevy’s zebras, rhinos and mountain bongos, and have also financed community programmes including more than 40,000 clinic visits and multiple school initiatives. The statement did not provide a breakdown of the KSh1.3 billion by year or beneficiary.

Mike Watson, CEO of Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, said the event’s contributions extend across conservation and livelihoods. “Every step taken at the Lewa Safari Marathon powers real, measurable conservation impact. Through the commitment of every runner and supporter, we are securing critical habitats, protecting endangered species, and building resilient communities with sustainable livelihoods,” Watson said, adding that sponsors remain central to delivering the programme.

Chantal Migongo-Bake, Tusk’s Chief Conservation Officer, said the marathon is designed to mobilise international and local support for conservation and community programmes. “The Lewa Safari Marathon is more than just a race, it’s a running challenge with purpose… This incredible event continues to raise vital funds that innovate conservation efforts, protect critical landscapes and threatened species, and uplift livelihoods,” she said.

Safaricom, the event’s main sponsor since inception, said it will provide KSh10 million in support for the 2026 edition. Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom, said: “As part of our continued commitment, we will this year support the event to the tune of KES 10 million… we are equally proud to enable conservation through connectivity, ensuring that Lewa remains digitally empowered to protect wildlife more effectively.”

Huawei Kenya said it will also continue its sponsorship, which the organisers said has run for more than a decade. Gao Fei, CEO of Huawei Kenya, said: “Huawei is delighted to have been a long-standing supporter of the Lewa Safari Marathon.”

Beyond Safaricom and Huawei, the organisers listed additional 2026 partners as National Bank of Kenya, ICEA Lion, Tropical Heat, Safarilink, AMREF, Elewana and Land and Life. They said partner contributions provide core financial support used for conservation and community initiatives.

The race has full marathon, half marathon, 10K and a children’s race. Organisers said more than 25,000 runners from over 40 countries have participated over the years, including Kenyan athletes Eliud Kipchoge, Paul Tergat and Catherine Ndereba. They also cited Runner’s World recognition of the race among top amateur events globally.

For Kenya’s business landscape, the marathon illustrates a recurring model of corporate-backed conservation financing, linking brand partnerships to measurable funding for protected areas and adjacent communities. With the tourism value chain closely tied to wildlife assets, such events can influence conservation budgets, local enterprise activity and destination visibility in the wider Mount Kenya–Laikipia ecosystem.

Organisers said the 2026 race will be held at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with proceeds supporting a range of Kenyan conservation organisations including Borana Conservancy, Grevy’s Zebra Trust, Lamu Marine Conservation Trust and Tsavo Trust, among others. The next milestone is the opening of Kenya and East Africa entries on March 27 ahead of the June 27 event.