When Speed (real name Darren Watkins Jr.) touched down in Nairobi on January 11th, 2026 the city didn’t just welcome him, it exploded.
Fans flooded the streets chanting his name; traffic came to a standstill and police escorts became a necessity as Nairobi turned into a massive moving festival. From the airport to the city, it felt like the entire country had been waiting for their global superstar.
But what made this tour truly special wasn’t just Speed’s energy.
It was how Kenya showed up for him.
The Ministry of Tourism, through the Tembea Kenya initiative, stepped forward in a big way providing security, coordination and ensuring that Kenya’s people, culture and destinations were intentionally placed on a global stage. This wasn’t an accidental exposure. This is a strategy.
And it worked.
School Spirit & Superstar Energy
Speed kicked things off at Upper Hill High School, where students screamed like he was a rockstar on tour. He jumped into a rugby match, tried his hand at Javelin with Olympic champion Julius Yego (spoiler: the champion won easily) and turned an ordinary school day into a moment those students will never forget.
From the very first stop, it was clear: this wasn’t a controlled tour. This was Kenya in full color.
Markets, Money & Viral Moments
At Kenyatta Market, Speed picked a Kenyan-themed shirt priced around KSh 3,000–5,000, then shocked everyone by paying KSh 20,000.
Four times the price. The vendor froze. The crowd erupted. It felt like a World Cup goal had just been scored. Moments like this didn’t feel staged. They felt human — generous, spontaneous and deeply Kenyan.
Food Adventures & Real Culture
Speed dove headfirst into Kenyan cuisine and he didn’t just eat it, he cooked it. In one of the most memorable live moments from his Nairobi stream, he joined a local vendor at a roadside stall and gave making chapati a try, skillfully flipping the dough on a hot grill while laughing with the crowd and cracking jokes at his own beginner attempts. Viewers watching worldwide couldn’t get enough — it was authentic, messy, hilarious and totally unforgettable.
Before that, he also tried his hand at cooking ugali, Kenya’s beloved staple made from maize flour, learning from the locals how to achieve the perfect texture.
Of course, he didn’t stop at the cooking.
He tasted a full spread of Kenyan classics — ugali, nyama choma (grilled meat), chapati, kachumbari and even more adventurous bites. His reactions were pure entertainment: wide-eyed excitement, loud laughs and constant declarations that everything was “fire!” — not just comments but live, unfiltered reactions that made global audiences feel like they were right there with him. He wasn’t just sampling culture.
He was living it.
Matatu Madness & Street Energy
Speed didn’t truly experience Nairobi until he stepped into a nganya matatu, the heartbeat of the city.
Wrapped in graffiti art, pulsing with deafening music, lights flashing and packed with shouting fans, the matatu turned into a moving nightclub on wheels. As it weaved through traffic, crowds chased alongside, phones in the air, drivers hooting and pedestrians stopping in disbelief. This wasn’t transport.
This was Nairobi culture in motion. And for millions watching live, this chaotic, colorful ride became one of the most unforgettable symbols of his entire Kenya tour.
Wildlife, Rhinos & Once-in-a-Lifetime Encounters
The wildlife moments were next level.
At Nairobi National Park and the Animal Orphanage, Speed fed giraffes, stood face-to-face with lions, cheetahs and a hyena and even named a baby rhino “Rhinaldo” in honor of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Nervous. Excited. In awe.
Millions watching around the world were seeing Kenya not through a documentary but through a creator experiencing it in real time.
City Adventures & Community Moments
Speed rode camels at Uhuru Park, flew over the city in a helicopter, spotting the massive Talanta Stadium — toured KICC and visited the Mukuru Affordable Housing Project, where he played basketball with locals.
Everywhere he went, crowds followed. Not tens. Not hundreds. Thousands.
Record-Breaking Streams & A Global Moment
Then came the moment that changed everything.
During his first-day livestream, Speed hit 200,000+ concurrent viewers, gained over 360,000 new subscribers in a single stream and smashed past 48 million total YouTube subscribers, the highest single-country gain of his entire Africa tour.
Right there in the helicopter, over Nairobi, he screamed: “KENYA IS NUMBER ONE!”
And the internet believed him. His Kenya streams hit record highs not by accident but because Kenyan fans brought unmatched energy, creativity, humor and warmth.
Kenya didn’t just host.
Kenya made history.
National Recognition & A Tourism Win
President William Ruto welcomed him with a warm video message: “Jambo, IShowSpeed, karibu Kenya — this is Magical Kenya.”
Tourism leaders immediately recognized the impact. Through Tembea Kenya, the Ministry of Tourism demonstrated what intentional modern tourism promotion looks like:
- Providing security
- Coordinating movement
- Opening doors to real communities
- Letting the world see Kenya without filters
This wasn’t a scripted campaign. This was organic nation branding and it worked.
Beyond Nairobi: Culture Without Borders
Speed’s journey didn’t stop in the city. In the Maasai Mara, he joined traditional dances, tried spear-throwing, and immersed himself in raw cultural traditions. From urban chaos to ancestral heritage, Kenya showed its full range. Every stop was chaotic. Every moment was heartwarming. Every day was historic.
Why This Trip Mattered
Kenya didn’t just host Speed, it embraced him. The Tembea Kenya initiative ensured his tour was safe, vibrant and a showcase of the nation’s pride. The crowds were massive, his streams hit record highs and Kenya proved itself as a groundbreaking people and destination.
Speed gave it right back, calling Kenya “number one” and hinting at a return. For fans, tourism and the culture, this was more than a visit—it was a moment of legend.
English (UK) 
Svenska 
Dansk 
Kiswahili 
Norsk bokmål