NAIROBI, Kenya – Celebrated American YouTuber Darren Jason Watkins Jr., also known by his online pseudonym IShowSpeed or simply Speed, has begun his Kenyan tour.
The American YouTuber and online streamer arrived in the country on Sunday, January 11, 2026, after visiting Rwanda and other Southern African countries.
He is one of the most popular online streamers and Internet personalities in the world.
Ahead of his arrival, President William Ruto took some time to invite him to the East African nation through a recorded video clip.
“Jambo, IShowSpeed, welcome to Kenya. Kenya is not just another country. Kenya is a pulse, a feeling. Kenya is home. this is magical Kenya, the origin of wonder,” said the head of state.
IShowSpeed, who is continuing his 28-day Africa tour, “Speed Does Africa”, after visiting South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Rwanda, started his stream in Kenya in the most wholesome way.
He asked a local woman in the capital, Nairobi, to teach him a phrase in Swahili. She used it on kids playing football nearby, then jokingly chased one of them, who ended up sprinting straight to his mom, leaving everyone laughing.
Additionally, ShowSpeed was genuinely shocked by the level of love and support he’s receiving in Kenya. Kenya officially became his biggest stream of the Africa tour so far, pulling in over 100,000 live viewers.
At this point, it’s hardly even a debate — Speed looks set to win Streamer of the Year, and the year has only just begun.
How IShowSpeed reacted to a meal of Ugali during the Nairobi tour
While IShowSpeed wasn’t even an hour into his Kenya stream when he ran into some of the craziest fans he’s seen so far on this Africa tour. One fan even managed to slip past heavy security just so Speed could sign his face.
Speed also tried out Ugali for the first time while in Kenya — a staple East African dish made from maize flour and water that’s deeply rooted in Kenyan food culture.
He couldn’t believe he’d never had it before, calling Kenya’s cuisine seriously underrated and incredibly delicious.
The American celebrity, whose Kenyan tour was highly anticipated, caused Upper Hill High School to shut down early after word spread that he was in town. Students and teachers alike gathered, all hoping to see his iconic backflip — and when he finally did it, the entire school erupted. At this point, Speed isn’t just a streamer anymore—he’s a worldwide entertainer.
What happened at Upper Hill High School during the IShowSpeed tour?
IShowSpeed would later walk into one of the biggest welcomes of his entire Africa tour in Kenya. He learnt that local kids even have school on Sundays — and their teachers let them leave early just because Speed was coming. His arrival was so big that it effectively shut the school down for the day.
IShowSpeed also visited Kenya’s biggest market, Kenyatta Market, where a guide helped him pick out a locally made Kenyan-themed shirt.
When he was told the price was KSh 3,000 (around $24) and encouraged to bargain it down, Speed did the opposite, making the shopkeeper’s day by handing over KSh 20,000 (around $150) instead.
Later, Speed visited one of Kenya’s biggest animal orphanages at the Nairobi National Park and asked the guides if he could watch the lions up close.
As he stepped nearer, a lion became fiercely protective of its territory and mate, letting out an ear-splitting roar behind the gate — leaving Speed genuinely terrified and backing off fast.
Which name did IShowSpeed give to a baby rhino in Nairobi?
He watched lions being fed during his visit to one of the largest animal orphanages in Kenya.
He noticed one lion suddenly stop eating and become hyper-focused on a specific worker, showing intense aggression — leading Speed to believe there’s some bad history between them as the lion locks onto him and won’t look away.
During the visit to the animal orphanage, IShowSpeed fed a baby rhino. Since the rhino has only just arrived and doesn’t have a name yet, Speed let the chat decide — and they named it Rhinaldo, after the famous football star Cristiano Ronaldo, turning the moment into a wholesome highlight.
Speed visited the nearby Carnivore Restaurant, where he tried ostrich testicles for the first time while in Kenya and was told by the chefs that they’re traditionally believed to support male reproductive health, including libido and sperm production. Speed really loved ostrich testicles.
Meanwhile, Speed’s Kenya tour almost took a dark turn after fans began driving recklessly to reach his car, leading to a serious crash nearby.
Why did IShowSpeed briefly switch off his live stream in Nairobi?
The situation escalated so quickly that Speed was forced to briefly turn his stream off as things spiralled out of control. In the unfolding melee, the celebrity noticed a young girl being crushed by the crowd while trying to reach him. He later learns she came alone because her younger brother is sick and couldn’t make it, so she pushed through just to meet Speed and make his wish come true.
She didn’t have a marker for an autograph, so instead she asked for a hug — and Speed gave her one. The purity and kindness of the moment completely broke his character, leaving him genuinely speechless and smiling. Indeed, Kenya is full of beautiful, genuine people, and ISphowSpeed can attest to it.
By the time of filing this report, IShowSpeed was on a visit to the Mukuru Affordable Housing project after enjoying the Kenyan matatu culture on various Nairobi City roads.
The ambitious live-streaming tour aims to showcase Africa’s culture, talent, and natural beauty through fast-paced travel, football activities, and strong fan engagement, backed by major sponsors and streamed to a global audience.
IShowSpeed plans to visit 20 African countries in total. Upcoming stops include Algeria, Benin, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, and Zambia, with schedules subject to travel logistics.
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