Ferdinand Omanyala Opens Up on IShowSpeed Race Drama: ‘He Never Contacted Me’

Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, has finally spoken about the controversy surrounding the much-talked-about race with popular American streamer IShowSpeed, revealing that the online personality never actually contacted him directly.

The Kenyan sprinter explained that the situation began after he received information from South African athlete Henricho Bruintjies, who informed him about the streamer’s visit to the region. From there, Omanyala and his team began considering how they could turn the moment into something beneficial for his personal brand.

During an interview with TV47 Kenya, Omanyala said he allowed events to develop naturally while quietly viewing the moment as a chance to spark discussion and attract attention online. According to the Commonwealth Games champion, he enjoys being in the spotlight and understands the value of keeping people talking about him.

“Funny thing is that the guy never reached out to me. That’s where the branding side comes in,” Omanyala said. “I heard he was coming through a friend in South Africa who suggested I show up. At first, it was just a casual conversation.”

The Kenyan star added that after thinking about the situation overnight, he realised it could serve as an opportunity to generate publicity.

“I told myself I could actually use this moment to get people talking,” he explained. “I’m someone who enjoys when people are discussing me.”

Omanyala Reveals the Social Media Strategy Behind the Buzz

Omanyala went on to describe how the viral race conversation was carefully sparked through social media. According to him, he and his team created a graphic showing him competing against IShowSpeed.

He then asked Bruintjies to upload the image online before sharing it himself shortly afterwards. When reposting it, Omanyala added a playful caption suggesting that he would beat the streamer from the very first step of the race.

The sprinter noted that the public only saw the post appear online and the debate that followed. What most people did not realise, he said, was the planning that went on behind the scenes to start that conversation.

Omanyala explained that the move was deliberate. By encouraging discussion and engagement, he was able to increase visibility around his name and expand the reach of his brand.

“We created an image of me racing him and then I told my friend to post it,” he revealed. “After that, I reposted it and joked that I’d beat him from the first step. People don’t know what happens behind the scenes. They only see the conversation starting.”

The Kenyan athlete said the idea worked exactly as expected. Once the post started circulating, it triggered debate and interaction across social platforms.

For Omanyala, moments like these are part of a broader strategy to remain relevant online and keep audiences engaged.

He explained that once the attention from one moment begins to fade, he immediately begins thinking about the next opportunity to capture people’s interest. Understanding how social media works, he said, allows him to stay ahead when it comes to building his image and influence.

“I used that moment to get people talking and to grow engagement,” he said. “After some time, when the buzz slowed down, I started thinking about the next thing. You have to understand what social media likes.”

Introducing the Money Angle to the Race Conversation

Omanyala also shared how the conversation eventually shifted toward a possible race arrangement, explaining that he introduced a financial element into the discussions.

According to the Kenyan sprinter, he understood that the streamer often embraces a flashy lifestyle and that financial incentives might help push the conversation further.

Because of that, Omanyala suggested that if a race were to happen, there would need to be a financial commitment involved.

“I know they enjoy luxury and money,” he said. “So I brought the money aspect into the discussion and suggested we get people involved and have a proper conversation.”

Omanyala said he made it clear that if IShowSpeed truly wanted to race him, then the challenge would need to come with some form of payment.

The topic reportedly remained part of ongoing discussions for nearly a month, with talks continuing informally as the idea gathered attention online.

However, things became more serious shortly before the planned visit.

According to Omanyala, just two days before the streamer arrived, a formal contract was presented, signalling that the race proposal had moved beyond online banter.

“At that point, when the contract appeared, I realised the conversation had become serious,” he said.

For Omanyala, the entire episode highlighted how strategic thinking and social media awareness can transform a simple idea into a widely discussed moment. By understanding how online audiences react and by timing his moves carefully, the Kenyan sprinter managed to turn the situation into a major talking point while further boosting his personal brand.