Omanyala thrilled about Kenya hosting the World Senior Track and Field Championship

The African 100m record holder was part of the bidding team that finally succeeded after Kenya’s previous attempts to host the global championships.

Omanyala tells SABC Sport that although Nairobi still has three years to prepare, Kenyans are already eager to welcome the world.

"It was exciting news yesterday because I've been part of the team, the athletes that have been part of the bidding process because we started this process in 2022, 2023, remember when we were bidding to host the World Championships last year that went to Tokyo,” Omanyala said. 

“We went there, we met the guys, we gave speeches and we really wanted this thing to come to Kenya but then we didn't get it. Again, there was a bid last year for the World Championships in 2029, again, we wrote speeches, we threw in our support.

“Then just hearing these news yesterday was a massive relief and for me I always wanted such a thing because Kenya has something for me. I always have my best performances, not all of them but most of them in Kenya. 

“So, I've always wanted us to have a Diamond League or a World Championships where we get more attraction, we get more competition, so now this has been granted to us, I mean this is great and I feel like three years is going to go so fast because now that's something that we are putting our sights to."

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Kenya will also be in the spotlight next year when it co-hosts the Africa Cup of Nations with Tanzania and Uganda. 

Omanyala, who won the Xiamen Diamond League 100m in 9.94 seconds earlier this year, says there has been some doubt about Africa’s ability to host major global sporting events.

He hopes Kenya’s successful bid will help change that perception.

"That's true, there was a bit of a doubt, you know like we are gonna pull up such an event but I mean the trust has been built over the years and every time countries in Africa could pull forward and say we want to host this event,” he added. 

“I mean you could tell that even some countries from the west don't want to come and participate in them but it's been changing over time and it was just a matter of time. “Botswana hosted a very good World Relays this year and it was magnificent. 

“So, from that you can imagine how Kenya is hosting the World Championships and it's not just that we are hosting the AFCON, come next year and we just hosted CHAN, last year which again was a huge success. So, I can't wait to see us pulling up these World Championships in 2029."