[5] A member of the Sabaot tribe, Masai grew up in Chepkoya – a village on Mount Elgon in Kenya's Bungoma County.

[3] Over his career spanning twenty years, from 1984 to 2004, he ran mainly cross country until 1991 before switching to road running.

He contested mainly races in France and Italy (under Gianni DeMadonna's management) before turning to the United States professional circuit in 2000.

His sixth-place finish at the 1994 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships brought him a team gold alongside compatriots Godfrey Kiprotich and Shem Kororia.

[3] Masai had three children with his wife and with his race winnings set up a transport company and a farming business near Eldoret.