Kenyan apparel brand Enda has announced their collaboration with various countries and athletes ahead of the 2024 Olympic games in Paris, France.
Enda, which produces running shoes and clothing, on Wednesday July 24 announced that they would be dressing athletes from Comoros and Gabon, sharing their excitement at the opportunity to provide shoes, apparel and gear to the athletes.
For Comoros, the athletes will be dressed in green and white gear as well as blue sports shoes.
The female outfits feature a series of stars running down the skirt, an apparent ode to their national flag.
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“With immense pride and excitement, we announce that Comoros will be dressed in Enda shoes, apparel, and gear for the Paris 2024,” they wrote on X.
“Every day, we push boundaries and strive for unparalleled excellence in all we do. Join us on this thrilling journey.”
Further revealing their collaborations, Endo also said that they would officially be dressing the Gabon national team as well, also sharing illustrations of the uniform – all-white suits with the Gabonese flag at the corners.
“With immense pride, today we unveil the uniform crafted for Gabon for the Paris 2024 Olympics,” they wrote.
“We are deeply honored to dress the exceptional athletes of Gabon for this momentous occasion.”
While most people in the comment section congratulated the brand for their international success, others faulted the Kenyan government for not jumping at the opportunity to also work with Enda, only allowing their creativity to be utilised elsewhere.
“For your information, this is a kenyan brand that dressed the Comoros olympics team… alafu huku tunavaa nguo za Ruracio!” someone said.
Someone else said, “A beautiful example of “go where you are seen,wanted and nurtured ”
Congratulations to @EndaSportswear for doing exactly that and showing us that if they don’t see or value you at home, somebody else definitely will!”
On her part, Peninah Njeri said, “Can you imagine that this is a Kenyan brand? Our athletes were given knockoff Nikes by this inpet government. Their corrupt tendencies couldn’t allow them to work with Endo for obvious reasons! Kenya is a shame!”
Enda, Swahili for ‘Go’, was founded in 2016 by Navalayo Osembo and Weldon Kennedy, a social activist and running shoe enthusiast.
Considering the popularity of running among many Kenyans, especially those from the Rift Valley, Osembo saw a gap in the domestic shoe market and sought to address it.
Their first shoe series, the Iten, rolled out in 2017, was named after the famous town in Kenya’s Rift Valley predominantly occupied by the Kalenjin community and which has produced some of the world’s best runners.
By mid-2021, the company had partnered with a local beer manufacturing company to produce a running trainer brand that would endear the general populace, support local businesses, and honor Kenya’s athletes.
By Citizen Digital