Ferdinand Omanyala Omurwa MBS is a renowned Kenyan sprinter specializing in 60 m, 100 m, and 200 m races.
He is the current African record holder in 100 m since 2021 with 9.77 seconds. Omanyala is as well the Kenyan national record holder in 60 m race with 6.54 seconds. He is also the first Kenyan to run 100 m race in less than 10 seconds.
Omanyala has gained a lot of popularity and admiration following his success in the short races. He is considered a rare species given that Kenya is globally known be home of middle and long distance runners.
In recognition for his achievements in athletics, Omanyala was conferred with the Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW) of Kenya in 2021 and later in 2023 the Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear (MBS) of Kenya.
Apart from being a sensational sprinter, Omanyala is a Kenya National Police Service officer with a rank of inspector as of 2023.
Age and Birthday
Ferdinand Omanyala was born in Kitale, Trans-Nzoia county, Kenya on 2 January 1996. Ferdinand is 28 years old as at 2024. His zodiac sign is Capricorn.
Ferdinand Omanyala Family
Parents and siblings
The track star parents are Fred Omurwa and Shikanga Omurwa.
He is the third born in a five sibling family. No information about his siblings’ names and their whereabouts at the present.
Wife and child
The sprinter is happily married to his beautiful long-time girlfriend, Laventa Amutavi Omanyala. Together they are have a son named, Quinton Finn Omanyala.
Ferdinand Omanyala Education
Frenidand Omanyala attended a local primary school. Here he sat for Kenya Certificate of Primary Education and did exceptionally well. He then joined Friends School Kamusinga for his secondary education. He joined the school rugby team when he was in form three.
The athlete would later enroll in the University of Nairobi where he pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Physical Sciences. He as well played rugby in the university.
Ferdinand Omanyala Career
Early stages
Ferdinand’s talent in athletics was evident since he was a boy. He was always quick on his feet and brilliant when it came to racing. However, he never considered venturing into athletics. His focus was to play rugby. He was called for trials to join the Kenya Sevens U-20 team but unfortunately did not make the cut.
It was until sometime in 2015 when playing rugby at the university a friend observed how brilliant he was. The sprinter then exchanged rugby for athletics. Inside only a few weeks, he participated in his maiden Athletics Kenya event in Kakamega, clocking 10.4 seconds in a 100 m race followed by a series of excellent performances at domestic level.
Omanyala was selected into the Kenya team for the April 2017 World Relays in Bahamas. He finished 7th in his debut international competition.
Doping ban
In 2017, the athletics star got a back injury and had to undergo treatment. It is after the treatment that Omanyala tested positive of a forbidden drug. He consequently had to serve a 14-month ban for the offence.
Back with a bang
Ferdinand Omanyala utilized the time he was serving the ban to enhance his prowess. Soon after his return to the track in 2019, he won the 100 m national title. He followed it up by setting a national record of 10.01 seconds on 30 March 2021 in Lagos, Nigeria.
In August 2021, at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the Kenya sprinter set yet another record at 10.00 seconds. Still inside the same month, in Austria, he ran personal best of 9.86 seconds. Omanyala consequently became the first Kenyan to run 100 m race in less than 10 seconds. In September 2021, at the Absa Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi, Kenya, he ran 9.77 seconds setting a new African record.
In June 2022, he won gold at the African Championships in Mauritius to become the African 100 m champion. The following month, Omanyala would be eliminated in the World Champions semi-finals. At the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, he won Kenya’s first gold of the event. This made him Kenya’s first athlete to win gold in 100 m in 60 years.
Ferdinand Omanyala Achievements and Medals
Achievements
- Personal bests: 100 m: 9.77 African record (2021), 200 m (2022), 60 m indoors: 6.54 National record (2023)
Awards
- Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW) of Kenya: 2021.
- Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear (MBS) of Kenya: 2023.
Medals
- Commonwealth Games: Gold 100 m (2022 Birmingham)
- African Championship: 2X Gold 100 m & 4×100 m (2022 Mauritius)
National titles
- Kenyan Athletics Championships: 100 m (2019, 2022), 200 m (2022)
Ferdinand Omanyala Net Worth
No information on the sprinter’s net worth. We are keeping in tabs and we will keep posted shortly. His main sources of income are athletics and endorsement contracts.