ENDA

When you’ve got a race ahead of you, you know that the challenge is two-fold: getting to the finish line and pushing yourself for your best performance. You’ve pushed your body to the limit, developing the strength and endurance to not only see the journey through but to put the challenge firmly in your rearview. The race isn’t given just to the swift or the strong; it’s also given to those who are equipped for victory. It isn’t enough to be trained. You need to have the right gear to set you up for success, not just when it’s go-time, but during the preparation also.

The Enda brand started as a crowdfunding effort to make the first running shoe from Kenya. When it comes to running, few places in the world have a deep tradition in excellence as Kenya. Home to many running champions, Kenya is both the origin and inspiration of Enda products. Their flagship shoe, the Iten was conceived to fill a gap in training gear, the lightweight shoe. Named for a Kenyan town known to be “The Home of Champions,” the Iten matches lightweight flexibility with a firm and secure fit. It has been embraced by runners of all stripes as the shoe of choice both for distance running and various types of cross-training.

At Enda, “Run Kenyan” is not just a catchy gimmick. Enda products are both conceived and constructed in Kenya. The company was co-founded by Nava Osembo and Weldon Kennedy who met in 2015 with a shared interest in uplifting Kenya and its legacy of running excellence. Nava is a native Kenyan and Weldon was an avid running enthusiast and activist. Today, Enda is a majority Kenyan-owned business with diverse minority shareholders. This brand is Kenyan-founded, Kenyan-led and committed to the wellness of Kenya. Enda aims to not only be a leader in premium sports gear, but also an ambassador of Kenya to the rest of the world.

The Enda brand supports local communities with economic investment and development. This starts with job creation and extends into developing new products that have never been made in Kenya. This means better jobs, an improved supply chain and a greater collection of skills that benefit real Kenyans. Additionally, proceeds from Enda products are donated towards social initiatives in Kenya. Enda not only talks the talk, but walks the walk (or runs the run) as well. Enda also seeks to do right by the planet. It is proud to be the first Climate Neutral Certified company in Africa. It stands as a promoter and upholder of planet positive practices by measuring its environmental impact, offsetting that impact and reducing its footprint with intentional action.

At Gear.com, we have connected with the Enda brand and its commitment to “Run Kenyan.” We love this brand’s story of creating innovative gear to not only meet a gap in the running shoe segment, but to serve the larger goals of economic empowerment and global awareness of underserved communities. Premium running shoes such as the Iten and the Lapatet, inspired by the Kalenjin word for “running”, are the exact type of products that we’re happy to make available to our customers. “Run Kenyan” is not just a mood or a vibe, but it’s a way of life that fits what Gear.com is all about.