Chris Kirwa sides with Omanyala for refusing to race IshowSpeed
By Paulette Mboga, January 20, 2026Kenyan veteran event organiser and corporate MC Chris Kirwa has defended sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala after online criticism over his decision not to race popular streamer IShowSpeed.
Kirwa, on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, said that critics who call Omanyala ignorant do not understand the difference between brand and influence.
“Anyone who says @ferdiomanyala is ignorant bla bla oh does not know the difference between brand and influence for saying pay me,” he explained.
Kirwa added that Omanyala was the one IShowSpeed wanted to race, not the critics, and reminded them that they do not exist in some circles.
“So chill with your professional advice,” he said.
He also defended Omanyala’s approach to managing his brand and sponsors.
“Those who fund his brand don’t know you too. Ako mboka na ni tofauti na zetu!” Kirwa added.
He concluded by praising the respect Omanyala commands in the sporting community.
“Heshima izidi,” he said, highlighting that Omanyala’s decisions are based on professionalism rather than online pressure.
Omanyala explains reasons for skipping ishowSpeed race
Ferdinand Omanyala had also addressed his decision not to race IShowSpeed during his tour in Kenya. In a video shared on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, Omanyala spoke to students at an international school, saying that too much was at risk for such a race.
“It’s entertainment for you, but for me it is an input. I need to prepare for that for like an hour, and I need to stop my training for like 3 days,” he explained.
Omanyala said that participating would have required significant time and energy, and it did not fit into his schedule of professional events.
He also highlighted the potential consequences for his sponsors and competitions.
“What happens if I go and race him, and God forbid, I get an injury? How am I going to explain to my management or my sponsors that I was racing IShowSpeed?” Omanyala said.
He added that he already had scheduled competitions for the week, including flights and events that were fully paid for, making the race impractical.