Since obtaining her citizenship in the United Kingdom (UK), Anne Wafula-Strike has led one of the most successful lives.
Her early life narrative is not particularly interesting. She was born in Muhiu, Bungoma County.
Wafula was a typical child when she was born, but a terrible event at the age of two forever altered her life. She experienced a polio episode, which eventually caused her to become crippled.
However, her life story was not over because of her disabilities. She got back up and began climbing ladders while concentrating on her schooling.
Wafula started working as a teacher at the Machakos Technical College after completing her A-levels and earning a Bachelor of Education from Moi University.
While teaching and focusing on her life, she met a man she would later marry and their union led her to Britain in the early 2000s. That was the beginning of a new chapter.
Four years after relocating to UK, she would embark on a career never taken by many when she ventured into the world of athletics. In 2004, Wafula became the first wheelchair athlete from Sub-Saharan Africa to take part in the Paralympics in Athens.
In 2006, she became a British citizen. That allowed her to join Team GB and kick-started a professional career as a full-time athlete.
In 2007, she was among the delegates who were invited to Buckingham Palace. In 2014, Wafula was officially awarded the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her services to disability sport and charity work. The recognition is equivalent to what Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford holds.
Imagine from being a teacher to achieving all that. Wafula does not have any regrets about acquiring UK citizenship.
But that’s not all. She was named one of the top 12 influential women of colour in the UK and received a Black Entertainment, Film, and Fashion Award (BEFFTA) for being the most inspirational figure.
Wafula won the UK-Kenyan Sports Personality of the Year Award in 2004 and has also won the Women for Africa Recognition Award.
To mark Balck History Month in the UK, Wafula was among the six athletes feted in October 2021. She shared the accolades with Lewis Hamilton.
But retiring from athletics. Wafula has been running life-changing initiatives, touching lives in UK and across the world.
She established the Olympic-Wafula Foundation to promote healthy-living solutions among disabled and disadvantaged people.
She met a man she would eventually marry while teaching and concentrating on her life; their union brought her to Britain in the early 2000s. A new chapter had just begun with that.
She would start a career few others had ever taken four years after migrating to the UK when she entered the world of athletics. Wafula participated in the 2004 Athens Paralympics as the first wheelchair athlete from Sub-Saharan Africa.
She obtained British citizenship in 2006. This gave her the opportunity to join Team GB and launched her full-time athletic career.
She was one of the delegates called to Buckingham Palace in 2007. Wafula received the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2014 for her contributions to charity work and sport for people with disabilities. Marcus Rashford, a forward for Manchester United, possesses the same recognition.
Imagine doing all that after becoming a teacher. Wafula does not regret obtaining British citizenship.
That’s not all, though. She was honored with a Black Entertainment, Film and Fashion Award (BEFFTA) for being the most inspirational person after being designated one of the top 12 important women of color in the UK.
In addition to receiving the Women for Africa Recognition Award, Wafula earned the UK-Kenyan Sports Personality of the Year Award in 2004.
Wafula was one of the six athletes honored in October 2021 to commemorate Black History Month in the UK. Lewis Hamilton and she both received praise.
Wafula has been leading programs that have changed people’s lives both in the UK and around the globe.
To encourage healthy living among disabled and underprivileged individuals, she founded the Olympic-Wafula Foundation.
