How skateboarding is empowering young women in Nairobi

A quiet revolution is humming through the streets of Nairobi - not with chants or banners, but with the rhythmic clatter of skateboard wheels against tarmac. It’s not just about ollies and kickflips anymore; it’s about rewriting narratives, one daring push at a time. In a city that often asks its girls to be still, polite, and composed, a new generation is choosing movement, grit, and the graceful defiance of gravity. Skateboarding, once dismissed as a boys’ pastime, is now becoming a radical tool of empowerment for young Kenyan women.

GirlSkate Nairobi and SheSkates Kenya are two grassroots collectives helping girls challenge gender norms through the raw, expressive energy of skating. They are not just teaching kick flips, they are building communities where confidence is grown, and stereotypes are broken.

“We saw a clear gap, women and girls wanted to skate, but there wasn’t a space where they felt safe or truly welcome,” says Jelimo, one of the founders of GirlSkate Nairobi.

“The scene was male-dominated, and a lot of women just didn’t come back after trying it once. When we started GirlSkate Nairobi, it was about creating a space where they could come back, where they’d feel seen, supported, and part of something real.”

The response? Immediate and powerful. “Women came through, not just for the skating, but also for the community. The energy was loud, honest, and long overdue,” she added.

For Catherine ‘Veldana’ Diana, the Nakuru liaison for SheSkates Kenya, the movement has been nothing short of transformative.

“SheSkates Kenya has given me a sense of belonging and support,” she says. “It’s not every day you run into a female skateboarder in Kenya. Seeing girls thrive in a male-dominated sport is empowering, it challenges stereotypes and proves that skill, passion, and determination have no gender.”

In Nakuru, where the skateboarding scene is still growing, Veldana describes how the presence of fellow girls has made skating feel less intimidating.

“When we come together as skater girls, we create a safe space to push ourselves, learn, and celebrate progress. It is more than just a sport, it is a platform to network, make friends, and bring creatives together in a unique way,” she stated.

Carol Kariuki, the head of social media at SheSkates Kenya, first got into skating after watching a friend glide fearlessly through the streets: “Every trick, every fall, every retry showed dedication. Once I stepped on the board, I was hooked.”

“The moment I started, especially with the girls from the group, it became a good escape. It’s not just about the sport, it is the community, the support, and the feeling of accomplishment,” says Carol.

For Veldana, the growth has been internal as much as external. “I’ve learned tricks because I saw other girls do it first and figured I could too. There’s definitely a feeling of female empowerment when we skate together.”

“SheSkates Kenya encourages us to be relentless, disciplined, patient, kind and confident,” she adds. “You slowly find these values transferring into your personal life.”

Of course, it has not been easy. “We were underestimated a lot, says Jelimo. “Some people brushed us off, and did not take us seriously, nor give us rooms at events or platforms. So we built our own.”

From hosting their own events to incorporating art, music, and fashion into the culture, the organizations have reimagined what skateboarding in Kenya can look like.

And the impact extends far beyond skating. From self-defense workshops to mental health sessions, the focus is on building whole, empowered individuals. “Being part of this community gave me a deep sense of belonging,” says Carol. “It’s a journey of self-discovery, growth, and shared passion.”

This philosophy of collective growth fuels their long-term vision. “We are building a creative home, not just a skate spot, but a hub where women and girls can skate, learn, create, and feel part of something bigger. A space where art, music, fashion, and sport come together,” says Jelimo.

To girls who feel afraid to try something new, especially in male-dominated spaces, Jelimo’s message is simple and powerful: “Start, just start. You don’t need to fit a certain image or be perfect, you just need to show up. Skateboarding is for everyone. Your style, your background, your story, there’s room for all of it.”