The enduring and joyful marriage of Ferdinand Omanyala, the African 100m record holder, and his wife, Laventa Amutavi, is widely celebrated. However, the lesser-known tale of their first encounter adds an intriguing chapter to their love story.
Their journey began in a humble kibandaski, a colloquial term for a nondescript roadside eatery in Kenya. Laventa, then a social work student at Moi University, and Omanyala, a student at Nairobi University, found themselves in this unassuming setting. Laventa had heard about the emerging talent, Omanyala, who was making waves in the athletics scene.
During a casual lunch, Omanyala, known for his confidence, took notice of Laventa and boldly asked for her phone number. Initially hesitant, Laventa declined but counter-offered by asking for Omanyala’s number, promising to initiate contact, a promise she did not fulfill. Fate intervened when they unexpectedly crossed paths months later during a university sports event.
Once again, Omanyala requested Laventa’s number. Recalling the moment, Laventa admitted, “When he requested my number for the second time, I decided to text him out of guilt.” Omanyala persevered, and it took him six months to win Laventa’s heart.
Laventa admitted that her cautious approach was due to suspicions about Omanyala’s relationship status. She wanted to ensure his sincerity and understand why he didn’t have a girlfriend at the University of Nairobi. “I was not sure why he did not have a girlfriend, and I also wanted to know how persistent the guy is. I was like, why does he not have a girl at the UON? I had to take my time,” she explained.
Eventually, everything fell into place, and their love story unfolded.
In a previous radio interview, Laventa discussed the challenges of handling social media pressure since her husband’s rise to fame. Omanyala, attributing his success on the track to hard work and the unwavering support of his partner, acknowledged that dealing with fame was part of their shared dream. Laventa, now a mother of one, expressed positivity about their newfound fame, emphasizing the humbling experience of people appreciating Kenyan achievements.
