Kenya took centre stage in global digital entertainment on January 11, 2026, after world-famous YouTuber IShowSpeed, popularly referred to as Speed, landed in Nairobi as part of his highly followed “Speed Does Africa” tour.
The 20-year-old American streamer livestreamed his entire first day in the country, from his arrival at the airport to his visits across the city, drawing millions of viewers worldwide and thrusting Kenya into the global online spotlight.
During the visit, the government also made an appearance, with Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano briefly interacting with the YouTube star at the KICC helipad, highlighting Kenya’s growing use of digital creators to promote tourism.
Speed also met Kenyan sports icons, including Olympic javelin champion Julius Yego, whom he challenged to a javelin-throwing session at Upper Hill School, an encounter in which Yego was the clear favorite.
Another highlight was his meeting with “Gen Z Goliath,” the 8.2-foot-tall Kenyan considered the tallest man in the country, a moment that excited both local fans and international viewers.
The streamer also linked up with Ugandan social media personality Tenge Tenge, who travelled to Nairobi specifically to meet him.
By the end of his first day in Kenya, IShowSpeed had gained more than 360,000 new subscribers and pushed his total viewership past 48 million, setting a new personal record.
Who is IShowSpeed?
Born Darren Jason Watkins Jr. on January 21, 2005, IShowSpeed is a Florida-based content creator who rose from bedroom gaming streams to global fame.
He began uploading gaming content in 2016, but his popularity exploded in 2021 when rage-filled clips and exaggerated reactions were viral, transforming Speed into a meme phenomenon with more than a million subscribers by mid-2021.
In 2022, Speed shifted his focus to football content, driven by his admiration for Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, and built much of his brand around a quest to meet the five-time Ballon d'Or winner.
After finally meeting Ronaldo in 2023, Speed adopted the famous “Siiuuuu” celebration, which has since become his trademark.
Known for daring In-Real-Life challenges, including sprint races against elite athletes, Speed went a step further during his “Speed Does Africa” tour to race a cheetah.
Today, global tours are a fundamental feature of Speed's brand as he continues with his "Speed Does Africa" campaign. The African campaign comes a year after his 2024 tour of Southeast Asia, where Speed's subscriber count went beyond 30 million.
