Omanyala laments about astonishingly low prize money for national championship gold winners

Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, has called for a rethink in how Kenyan athletes are supported, revealing that winners at the Athletics Kenya National Championships receive just Ksh20,000 for a gold medal.

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Speaking after winning his men's 100m semifinal at the Athletics Kenya National Championships and Commonwealth Games Trials on Friday, 19 June, at the Nyayo National Stadium, Omanyala urged both the government and the private sector to invest more directly in athletes to help them prepare for major international competitions.

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His remarks come at a time when Athletics Kenya continues to attract corporate backing, with KCB Bank recently committing Ksh10 million towards the staging of the 2026 Commonwealth Games Athletics National Trials.

While acknowledging the importance of such sponsorships, the African record holder argued that many athletes do not directly benefit from funds channelled through federations.

"I wish they (corporate) could come directly to support individual athletes because, you know, sometimes it gets to the federations, but it doesn’t affect the athletes directly because there are athletes who are very hardworking, but they do not get these (benefits)," Omanyala said.

The Commonwealth Games champion noted that direct sponsorship would have a greater impact on athletes' livelihoods and performance, particularly for those striving to compete at the highest level without substantial financial backing.

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Omanyala further highlighted what he considers inadequate prize money at local competitions, using the national championships as an example.

"Look at the national championships, you are only getting Ksh20,000 for gold; to me, that is a day's spend. If we can have companies come and support directly (that would be great)," he added.

The sprinter believes stronger financial support would enable athletes to access better training facilities, coaching, and competition opportunities, ultimately improving Kenya's chances of success on the global stage.

Beyond sponsorship, Omanyala also challenged the government and private stakeholders to prioritise long-term athlete development ahead of next year's World Athletics Championships.

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According to the Kenyan sprint star, residential training camps and regular exposure to international competition are essential if Kenyan athletes are to remain competitive against the world's best.

"My call to the Kenyan government and private sponsors is to have these teams in camps because we have the World Championships next year. We need to give these guys exposure to go and compete abroad because it's very different," he said.

Omanyala explained that competing against elite athletes regularly helps build confidence, sharpen race execution and prepare competitors for the intensity of global championships.

The African record holder will be looking to win the 100m final on Saturday, 20 June, to earn a chance to defend his Commonwealth Games title.