Africa 100 metres champion Ferdinand Omanyala has asked Kenyans not to point fingers at the government over the visa hitches he faced resulting in his delayed trip to the US.

Omanyala, who reached the semi-finals in the 100m at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, said it took the intervention of the government to fast rack his visa processing.

“Lets stop pointing fingers. The government actually really helped,” tweeted Omanyala on Friday accompanied by a statement as the controversy raged over his visa and travel delays.

“Like I said, there is no one to blame for my visa delay. We all as athletes went for Visa interviews at the US embassy. After that, I was sent some supplementary questions that needed clarification. But on Thursday, a day before my race, my Visa was not out,” read his statement in part.


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It went on, “It was through the government intervention by the Ministry of Sports and Athletics Kenya that I got my Visa. In fact, the Ministry of Sports through CS Amina Mohammed were instrumental in my visa being granted once the issue was raised.”

The Kenyan star sprinter made the clarification after Kenyans blasted the government on social media blaming it for his failure to qualify for the 100m men's finals in Oregon.