Kenya is easily among the most successful sporting nations in the history of the Olympics. While the country is well represented across various track and field disciplines at the 2024 Paris Olympics, this year, Kenya is well represented in yet another non-sporting category, sportswear and apparel.

A majority of Kenyans are well accustomed to global sportswear brands including Adidas, Nike, Under Armour, Puma, and Reebok among others. However, a significant majority remain unaware of our very own Made in Kenya brand, Enda Sportswear which is sponsoring 3 African Nations at the historic games.

Enda Sportswear is sponsoring the nations of Comoros, Gabon and Djibouti at the Paris Olympics, a significant milestone in the company's history and march towards establishing a global footprint.

Enda is Africa's first performance footwear brand, creating high-quality shoes and gear sustainably and ethically. 

Founding

Enda was founded by Navalayo “Nava” Osembo and Weldon Kennedy in 2015. The two boldly decided to dramatically increase the amount Kenya benefits from its well-earned reputation in athletics.

In 2016 more than 1,000 people from around the world came together to make this a reality by backing Enda's crowdfunding campaign to make the first Kenyan running shoe: our lightweight trainer, the Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County.

Enda is a Swahili word meaning "Go". The inspiration for the name is from crowd cheers during sports events in Kenya. At the peak of a game or race, the whole crowd will be on its feet shouting, "Enda! Enda! Enda!".

The tip of a spear is the Enda logo. The tip of a spear is symbolic of pride, determination, fluid motion and onward progress. It is an illustration to go (‘enda’), run, explore, discover, and rediscover. To be distinct.

"As a brand, we firmly believe our biggest impact is how we make our shoes. We work to have the highest social and environmental standards. To this end, we are Certified B-Corp," the company states.

Enda Shoes

Every detail of Enda shoes is put together with keenness on technology and purpose, high sense in fashion, and well-tested in performance and style. 

Enda shoes have a perfect blend of comfort, style, and durability crafted with cutting-edge technology and a keen eye for fashion, fitness, and athletics. They offer unmatched performance and style whether one is hitting the gym, conquering trails, or enjoying a casual run.

The selection of running shoes are lightweight, comfortable and durable. The shoes are designed to support a natural gait, with a midfoot strike, the most efficient form of running favoured by Kenyan runners.

As a B-Corp, climate-neutral company, Enda shoes are ethical ensuring money goes to do good in the world.

Enda shoe brands include;

1. Iten - Iten is the training epicentre of many legendary Kenyan runners. It is a small town on the western edge of The Great Rift famously known as "The Home of Champions!"

Iten is a lightweight workout shoe ideal for the gym or HIIT exercises and great for runners during speed workouts like tempo runs, intervals and fartleks.

2. Lapatet - ‘Lapatet’ means ‘running’ ‘to run’ or ‘racing’ in Kalenjin - a diverse ethnic community in Kenya that is home to many renowned Kenyan runners.

These lightweight daily trainers are best-in-class for everyday runs, and work for both long runs and easy recovery days. Lapatets are designed to last and support longer runs with a focus on overall comfort and support and are built to last.

3. Koobi Fora - “Koo-bee For-ah” is an important archaeological site in Kenya where the first hominid footprints are found. This nimble trail shoe allows you to dance over any terrain.

Koobi Fora have a solid traction perfect for door-to-trail adventures that still has a road-friendly lug-profile that still makes it fun on the tarmac.

Features a water-resistant ripstop fabric for extra protection and a duel layer of cushioning to absorb landing impact.

Social Impact

Enda was founded with a mission of bringing Kenyan athletic greatness to runners everywhere and fueling economic development in Kenya.

1. Creating Jobs - By building new products that have never been made in Kenya, Enda aims to create better jobs both in Enda and in the local supply chain. Jobs that demand skills and result in higher wages. Enda measures this by the amount of our costs that got to wages in Kenya. 

2. Supporting local communities - A portion of the purchase price of each pair of shoes goes towards social good initiatives in Kenya, under Enda Community Foundation.

The company works with a panel of experts to find projects where we can have the most impact on people who could use the most help. In the spirit of Harambee, Enda engages with a global community of Enda runners to decide which projects to support.

3. Changing the way the world sees Kenya - Enda purposes to showcase to the whole world the creativity and skill that can be found in Kenya. When you see Made in Kenya on a tag, it should automatically mean quality and contemporary style.