RHODAH MAYAVI: Why Ferdinand Omanyala should have raced IShowSpeed

The world-famous YouTuber Darren Jason Watkins Jr., popularly known as IShowSpeed, recently took Kenya and indeed the world by storm.

The 20-year-old American online streamer is globally recognised for his high-energy livestreams, intense personality, athletic stunts, and viral catchphrases.

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His recent “Speed Does Africa” tour has seen him travel across several African countries, showcasing culture, people, and landmarks through real-time digital storytelling.

On January 11, Kenyans warmly welcomed IShowSpeed. His itinerary included the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Nairobi National Park, Uhuru Park, Maasai Mara where he experienced Maasai culture and a helicopter ride over the Talanta Stadium, among other destinations.

His African tour has also covered South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Egypt, and Algeria, with more countries still on the list.

At only 20 years old, IShowSpeed commands global attention – drawing interest from presidents, elite athletes, and millions of young people worldwide.

One of IShowSpeed’s defining passions is racing. He has previously raced Botswana’s top sprinter Letsile Tebogo, American fitness influencer Ashton Hall, Noah Lyles, social media influencer Daniel LaBelle, and even a cheetah in South Africa.

During his Kenya visit, IshowSpeed expressed interest in racing Kenya’s celebrated 100-metre sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala.

However, the race failed to materialize after Omanyala reportedly demanded Ksh 6.4 million for the exhibition, prompting IshowSpeed to bow out.

Omanyala later explained that he is not an influencer and that he runs for money, noting that major brands such as Adidas and Toyota pay him for his craft.

While this position is understandable, it raises an important question: why can we not respect different hustles?

Omanyala runs for prize money and endorsements, while IShowSpeed races for content, entertainment, charity, and global engagement. Neither pursuit diminishes the other.

As of January 18, 2026, IshowSpeed boasts over 49.5 million YouTube subscribers and 44.4 million Instagram followers, compared to Omanyala’s significantly smaller online following.

Racing IShowSpeed would have placed Omanyala and Kenya on a massive international platform, potentially unlocking global visibility and long-term brand value far beyond the immediate financial gain. In the digital age, exposure often translates into opportunities that money alone cannot buy.

The incident has sparked mixed reactions among Kenyans. While some praised Omanyala for “knowing his worth,” others expressed disappointment, arguing that the moment called for magnanimity rather than rigidity.

Social media personality Andrew Kibe, known for his advocacy on men’s issues called out Omanyala for being emotional rather than magnanimous, insisting that branding today is not about the money first but the numbers.

Separately, motivational speaker Robert Burale recently urged Kenyan content creators to avoid gossip-driven negativity and instead learn from global creators like IShowSpeed.

He challenged local creators to study how a 20-year-old has built a 49-million-strong audience through consistency, creativity, and vision.

It is time Kenyan celebrities and content creators focused beyond short-term paydays and embraced brand-building, learning, and strategic collaboration.

Opportunities do not always come dressed as contracts – sometimes they come disguised as moments.

Rhodah Mayavi is a journalist and comments on current and social issues among other topics.

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