Omanyala demands Ksh6.4M to race IShowSpeed
Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, has made it clear that he’s not interested in racing American streamer IShowSpeed for free.
In an interview on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, just before IShowSpeed’s much-anticipated trip to Kenya, Omanyala expressed his willingness to compete but emphasized that any race would need to come with proper payment.
The Commonwealth Games champion and African 100m record holder said he operates with a professional team and expects the same level of seriousness from anyone seeking to race him.
“I mean, he has a team, I have a team. If he wants to compete, of course, he will reach out,” Omanyala said. “There are no rules for reaching me as long as we are in Kenya, but we are not doing it for free. If you are putting anything, it should not be less than $50,000.”
The amount comes out to about Ksh6.4 million, a sum that Omanyala feels truly represents his status as a top-tier athlete and a global sprint sensation.
Kenyan fans have been buzzing on social media, tagging Omanyala and encouraging him to take on the YouTuber. The sprinter playfully replied on X, saying he would “whoop him by the third step.”
Omanyala’s viewpoint aligns with that of other top athletes who have refused to compete against Speed without proper payment. Just last year, Olympic champion Sha’Carri Richardson also turned down a similar offer, candidly saying, “I don’t race for free.”
IShowSpeed has made quite a name for himself by turning sprint challenges into must-see events. As he travels the globe, this 20-year-old streamer has gone head-to-head with football legends, viral fitness influencers, and top-tier athletes, often attracting millions of viewers in the process. He’s celebrated for his victories in various exhibition races, including a much-talked-about showdown against Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo during his trip to Botswana, where Speed managed to cross the finish line first after Tebogo stumbled early on.
But it hasn’t all been smooth sailing for Speed; he’s also faced some tough losses, like when he was clearly outpaced by Olympic champion Noah Lyles in another high-profile race that still managed to keep fans buzzing online.
Looking ahead, Kenya is shaping up to be one of the most eagerly awaited stops on his journey.
Omanyala demands Ksh6.4M to race IShowSpeed
