Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala has confirmed that he will be in Oregon for the World Athletics Championships that start on Friday, July 15 at the Hayward Field at the University of Oregon, USA.

Omanyala’s participation in the championships was in doubt on Thursday morning after a visa hitch that affected some of the athletes and members of the technical staff.

In a post on his social media accounts, the 9.77 man could not hide his joy as a banner with World Athletics colours and his image read “Oregon here I come!”

Omanyala had always insisted that he was ready to take on the world’s best at Hayward field. “I’m always ready and optimistic that I will compete, mimi ni Mluhya (I am a Luhya),nilipack Sunday asubuhi (I packed on Sunday morning)” he told a local radio station on Thursday morning.

It took the intervention of President Uhuru Kenyatta to have his visa processed and the 26 year-old Omanyala could not hide his joy as he gets ready for the global showpiece.

“Visa challenges are faced by all Kenyans and people daily, in this case I was no different. Firstly, I would like to thank God, the President of Kenya HE Uhuru Kenyatta and GOK through MOSCA, Amb. Amina Mohamed who have been at the forefront in ensuring I get my visa. Thank you the USA EMBASSY in Kenya for granting me my VISA,” he said in a statement.

“I will also be competing in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham on July 28th. Looking forward to making all Kenyans proud,” he added.

“If I arrive there like a bit late, Mr. Barnabas Korir has told me that they (AK) are talking to World Athletics to have me race in my own heat which will be nice just to run alone and feel the field and compete alone and make through to the semi finals you know, after that everything will follow but I hope I get there and compete with the others because that is the importance of such games,” he added soon after receiving his visa.

“I have been training for this for one year and when I get the chance I will use it, I have everything ready so it is upon me to take that plane and move to Oregon. I am always ready, I have been through a lot and I have a strong mentality so my main aim is to get there,” a confident Omanyala said.

“I am not selecting any championships, all are important so I am going for medals in both (The World Championships and the Commonwealth Games),” he posed.

Omanyala is expected to jet out of the country at 6:00 pm on Thursday and touch down in the USA at 4:00 pm on Friday, slightly two hours before the start of the competition.