Fifteen-year-old judoka Arno Yafunga, who fled the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a child and now lives in Nairobi, has secured his place on the refugee team for the upcoming Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, rfi.fr reported. The tournament runs from October 31 to November 13, marking the first Olympic event hosted on the African continent and the first time an official refugee team will compete at the youth games.
Six young athletes who sought asylum in Kenya and Uganda will represent the refugee delegation across athletics, judo, and taekwondo. Yafunga, who competes in the under-55 kilogram weight category, trains daily on the tatamis of a small Nairobi judo hall alongside his father, Arnold, a black belt who also fled the DRC. Yafunga’s daily routine combines early morning roadwork, daytime schooling, and evening combat sessions.
Ambitions on the Tatami in Nairobi
Training provides more than athletic conditioning for the young competitor in a city where daily life presents substantial hurdles. Yafunga credits the sport with steering him away from negative influences in Nairobi, emphasizing that judo instills respect and responsibility rather than trouble. His ambitions for the upcoming competition in Senegal are direct, as he stated that he does not want a silver or bronze medal and aims solely for the gold to demonstrate what refugee athletes can achieve when given international opportunities.
His father, Arnold, noted that living as a refugee in Kenya involves severe bureaucratic and financial constraints. Without official cards or work permits, daily survival is difficult, and securing proper athletic equipment or training spaces remains an ongoing challenge for talented displaced youth in the region. Arnold emphasized that his son’s qualification sends a broader message to the displaced community that being a refugee does not mean the end of ambition.
Demographic Realities in Kenya
United Nations data indicates that more than 800,000 refugees and asylum seekers currently reside in Kenya, with minors under the age of 17 accounting for roughly half of that population. Against this backdrop, the inclusion of refugee athletes in the Dakar program offers a visible platform for youth displaced across East Africa.
For Yafunga and his fellow team members across the region, the next major milestone arrives when competition officially opens in Dakar on October 31.
