Kenyan para athlete Samson Ojuka
Kenyan para-athletes: Samson Ojuka shares more on Para Sports in Africa and the importance of communication and community engagement for meaningful social change.
Global cultural moments, such as the Paralympics, have the ability to amplify inclusion outside of sport. The Global Disability Innovation Hub itself is a legacy of London 2012 – and as part of our AT2030 programme funded by UK International Development we have continued to explore how sport and culture can unite visionary leadership and innovative thinking to change lives and drive impact globally.
We know that Assistive Technologies support diverse participation, but that inclusion is founded in disability awareness and the reduction of stigma. To accelerate change we need greater awareness and visibility of Para sport, with dissemination an important priority in Low- and Middle- Income Countries.
Alongside Paris 2024 we explored innovative mechanisms to amplify para sport activities and drive change. Working alongside Kenyan athletes and the youth movement and award-winning media house Shujaaz – we were able to reach new audiences with the aim of dismantling stereotypes and sharing first person narratives of entrepreneurship, sporting achievement and community participation. Thought the narrative of successful para-athletes we have looked to spark youth interest to expanding the pipeline of future sporting talent.
A vivid illustration of these efforts can be seen in the experiences of two Kenyan para-athletes who competed on the international stage at Paris 2024 – and were part of the team that ensured Kenya’s most decorated Paralympic team since 2008 Beijing. Samson Ojuka a long-jumper and sprinter.
Samson, a 28-year-old Paralympic long jumper and sprinter, is as devoted to academic achievement as he is to athletic excellence. He currently pursues a bachelor’s degree in law a demanding program that requires constant discipline and focus, yet one that underscores his unwavering determination to excel on multiple fronts.
Samson who was born with Erb's palsy, competes in para athletics classifications that typically involve athletes with lower-limb differences or limitations. Born and raised in Kenya, Samson is based in Nairobi, where he trains under challenging conditions. He has been competing for close to a decade, having started his athletic journey in secondary school as a 100-meter sprinter before coaches recognized his exceptional takeoff power and fluid stride perfect traits for the long jump.
Over the years, he has balanced grueling training schedules with his legal studies, often juggling early-morning track sessions before heading to campus. Reflecting on this dual path, Samson says, “Law school pushes my mind as much as athletics pushes my body. Both disciplines demand total commitment, and that’s how I stay motivated.”
Undeterred by minimal sponsorships and the financial strain of traveling abroad for competitions, Samson captured international attention at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, where he secured a silver medal with an African-record leap of 6.20 meters. The victory not only affirmed his talent but also spotlighted the resource gaps faced by many para athletes. Samson recalls the weight of that moment, sharing, “I was the last competitor to jump. None of my teammates had won a medal, so I felt this deep responsibility to bring one home.”
Far from satisfied, Samson’s ambitions now point to the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games, where he hopes to shatter the existing world record of 6.77 meters. Alongside his personal goals, he continues to advocate for broader corporate sponsorship and more advanced training facilities particularly for Kenyan para- athletes who often must travel long distances to access even basic equipment.
His call for support is clear: “We pour everything we have into training, but it’s tough when you don’t have stable funding or the right facilities. If government bodies and sponsors can invest in us the way they do in able-bodied athletes, we’ll show the world what’s possible.”
For Samson, the road ahead is a balancing act of perfecting his technique, completing his law degree, and championing the cause of para athletes in Kenya. With every leap, he challenges the prevailing notion of what individuals with disabilities can achieve reminding us that passion, perseverance, and the right support can catapult anyone to record-breaking heights.