American streaming sensation IShowSpeed has set new benchmarks during his visit to Kenya on the 20-country “Speed Does Africa” tour, breaking viewership records and receiving high-level state recognition.
The Kenyan leg of the tour has officially surpassed previous stops in subscriber growth and real-time digital engagement as of January 11, 2026.
The Nairobi livestream, which showed the 20-year-old creator exploring the city’s streets and landmarks, stands at over 6.2 million views on his YouTube channel.
South Africa and Rwanda follow, with 4.9 million views and 4.5 million views respectively. Other locations where Speed streamed from include Eswatini, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana.
During the broadcast, Speed said the Kenyan audience had helped push his channel toward 47.9 million subscribers, gaining more followers during this single session than in any other African nation on the tour.
“Kenya is so far number one,” he told his audience. “The energy here is just different. The numbers don’t lie.”
Unlike other stops on the continent, the Kenyan visit included a formal welcome from the presidency.
President William Ruto issued a video statement, saying, “Kenya is not just another country; Kenya is a pulse, a feel. Kenya is home.”
The Ministry of Tourism and Nairobi County officials also engaged with the tour, highlighting Nairobi as a hub for the “orange economy” and digital innovation.
The tour’s popularity was fueled by a mix of traditional and modern cultural experiences.
At Kenyatta Market, Speed bought a Kenyan-themed shirt priced at KSh 3,000 but paid KSh 20,000, a gesture that went viral.
He visited Upper Hill School for rugby and received javelin coaching from Olympic silver medalist Julius Yego.
A proposed sprint against Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, also drew huge social media attention, with Omanyala tweeting, “I will whoop him by the third step.”
Security forces struggled to manage the massive crowds, which brought traffic to a standstill in parts of Nairobi, making the Kenyan stop the most electric phase of the tour so far.