Most Sunday afternoons, an amalgam of sounds occupies the sunken car park lot near Aga Khan Walk. It is usually a zealous gospel group rehearsing near a tree pitted against the sound of laughter, loud conversation and whizzing wheels scuttling by. People who pass by often gape at the skating phenomenon in the area.

Most Sunday afternoons, an amalgam of sounds occupies the sunken car park lot near Aga Khan Walk. It is usually a zealous gospel group rehearsing near a tree pitted against the sound of laughter, loud conversation and whizzing wheels scuttling by. People who pass by often gape at the skating phenomenon in the area. “Guys here just watch like, ‘What’s this they’re doing? That’s a child’s toy.’ They think it’s a white thing, [but] it’s a human thing,” says Leo Kilel. The 25-year-old is Kenya Skateboarding Society’s Chairman and part owner of Badwood Skateshop.

The society started in 2010 to spread awareness and create a community around Kenya. It counts 150 members online of which 20 members skate consistently. “I went to the internet and learned a lot of stuff [watching videos]”, Leo recalls. He learned how to ride in Class Five but can now do a “Fakie 540 big flip”, which involves flipping the board and landing back on it as it rolls. (If you don’t find this impressive I dare you to go and get a skateboard and just stand on it for 5 seconds without falling). One big challenge for the skateboarding community is receiving taxfree, donated goods, “Posta [POSTAL Corporation of Kenya] wouldn’t release [the] skateboards.

We couldn’t convince [Posta] that we are not selling them,” he explains. A German organization, “Skate Aid”, donated gear in 2010 so the society could teach at Imani Children’s Home (Matopeni). Skate Aid is working with the society to build a skate park around Kangemi this year. “It is like a stamp [that] will solidify that we exist. Now you can’t ignore us anymore,” he reveals. For now “home” is Uhuru park as the parking lot near Aga Khan walk serves as a meeting point.

“Once you get into [skateboarding], you walk around [and] just see the places you can skate,” he muses. An eclectic group of guys occupying the steps throw the odd, “checki” before executing a move wearing their baseball hats and trendy shoes. “[Skateboarding] is about progress and everyone progresses at their own level,” Leo states his Levi’s slightly sagging. “We want people to come out to the streets and [skate],” he insists. The sound of skateboards and Sheng appear ready to occupy a space near you. Uta do?