By Swaleh | 08:27 – 12.05.2025
Ferdinand Omanyala has issued a passionate appeal to the government after leading Kenya to a historic qualification for the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan—marking the country’s first appearance in the men’s 4x100m relay since 1983.
Kenya’s qualification ends a 41-year absence on the global sprinting stage. The last national relay team, featuring Alfred Nyambane Johnson, Peter Wekesa, John Anzrah, and Moja Shivanda, was disqualified in the heats at the inaugural World Championships in Helsinki.
Now, with Kenya scripting a new chapter in sprint history, Omanyala is urging the government to fully back the team’s preparations—financially and logistically.
“It’s now down to business,” said Omanyala after the race. “The country has seen what we can do. We need support—financially, in terms of training camps, and everything necessary to prepare. The World Championships won’t be a walk in the park.”
Omanyala, Africa’s fastest man and the Commonwealth champion, called for immediate investment in training facilities to ensure the team is ready for the global test ahead.
The qualification was made even sweeter by the team setting a new national record—a feat Omanyala described as the highlight of his weekend.
“We’ve had an amazing weekend at the World Relays. This will go down in history. We’re the team that brought Kenya back to the World Championships in the 4x100m relay,” he said. “Yesterday we set a national record. Today, we secured second place and punched our ticket to Tokyo.”
With this achievement, Omanyala believes the relay team has sparked a renaissance in Kenyan sprinting—a discipline historically overshadowed by the nation’s long-distance dominance.
As preparations begin, his appeal to the government is clear: equip the team, and they will deliver.
“We’ve made history. Now give us the tools to make a mark on the world stage,” Omanyala concluded.
