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‘She’s my first love’ – Omanyala opens up about his wife
20th November, 2025 07:29 AM
Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, has shared the heartwarming story of how he met his wife, Laventa Amutavi, and why she remains one of the biggest pillars in his life.
Speaking candidly in an interview on Dr Ofweneke’s Lesson at 30 segment, Omanyala revealed that their love story began in 2016 at a university event, long before he became a continental sprint sensation.
“We met in 2016 at one of the university’s events. I saw her and I was like, ‘Huyu anakimbia fiti.’ We became friends and started dating after six months,” Omanyala revealed.
The Kenyan sprint star described his wife as his first and only love.
“She is my first love. I did not have a partner before her,” he said.
The sprinter praised her humility, saying it is one of the qualities that made him fall in love with her, adding that she has remained humble and true to herself even after he broke the African sprinting record.
“She is very humble; ukipata dem mwengine akuwe na mtu ako na such kind of things atanza kuruka ruka, but for her, she is very humble,” Omanyala stated.
The couple has remained strong through the highs and lows of his athletic journey, including breaking the African record and becoming one of the most recognised athletes on the continent.
Who is Laventa
Just like Omanyala, Laventa is also an athlete.
Laventa, during an interview in September 2021, disclosed that they met during inter-university competitions and their love would later blossom, leading to marriage.
The couple’s first child, Quinton Omanyala, was born while the lovebirds were still in university, Laventa at Moi University and Omanyala at the University of Nairobi.
“In 2017, after performing well in university championships both in Kenya and East Africa, I was chosen to represent Kenya at the World University Games in Taipei. Coincidentally, Omanyala, whom I had started dating the previous year, was also headhunted for the games. The officials did not know we were dating,” she said.
Laventa’s favourite race is the 100-metre sprint competition that Omanyala seems to have mastered. She has participated in several competitions, with her best time being 12 seconds.
Apart from race, Laventa has also specialised in long jump competitions. She has featured in several long jump competitions in the past.
