By Brian Kiprono - Reporter
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Kenya, August 9, 2026 - For most people, skateboarding is a hobby. For Julius Esinyon Ekeno, it is a tool for changing lives.
The 26-year-old from Turkana County is leading a gruelling over 700-kilometre skateboarding expedition from Nairobi to Lodwar, not in pursuit of a record or personal glory, but to prove that opportunity should not be determined by where a child is born.
His campaign, dubbed Push4Change, has seen him and a small team skate hundreds of kilometres across Kenya, enduring broken skateboards, steep hills and unforgiving weather while carrying a message of hope, peace and youth empowerment.
For Ekeno, the journey began with a simple belief.
"Push4Change was inspired by the need to create opportunities for young people in underserved communities like Turkana. Skateboarding changed my life, it gave me confidence, discipline and a sense of belonging," he told Dawan Africa.
Growing up in Turkana, Ekeno never imagined skateboarding would become his life's mission. After discovering the sport while studying in Nairobi, he taught himself to skate before returning home to introduce it to young people who had never seen a skateboard.
Today, he says children across Turkana are eager to embrace the sport.
"I've seen a strong urge growing among kids in Turkana to skate and be part of something bigger. That inspired me to take this journey, showing that skateboarding doesn't only belong in the city, but can grow and thrive in our rural homes too."
Beyond promoting the sport, Ekeno hopes the expedition will rally support for the construction of Turkana's first skatepark, creating a safe space where young people can learn, build confidence and stay away from crime and drugs.
"This journey is about proving that where you come from doesn't limit where you can go while pushing towards building a skatepark that will give the next generation a safe space to grow."
The journey has been anything but easy.
The team has battled exhausting uphill climbs stretching more than 20 kilometres, rough roads, harsh weather and limited supplies. At times, damaged skateboards have forced them to abandon skating and continue on foot.
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"It's been physically and mentally demanding, long distances, tough terrain, harsh weather and limited resources. We've had boards break and moments where we had to walk, which slows everything down," Ekeno said.
"But those challenges are part of the journey. They've pushed us to stay resilient, adapt and keep moving forward no matter what."
The expedition has drawn attention across the country, with communities welcoming the skaters as they travel through regions historically affected by conflict between Turkana and Pokot communities.
Organisers say the tour is using sport to encourage peace, cultural exchange and dialogue while demonstrating that young people can become ambassadors for reconciliation.
But Ekeno insists Push4Change is only the beginning.
He envisions similar skateboarding expeditions across Africa, bringing opportunities to rural communities where access to sports infrastructure remains limited.
"We want to expand Push4Change across Africa through more skateboarding journeys, community outreach and skatepark projects," he said.
"The vision is to continue showing that skateboarding can create positive change, connect communities and give young people opportunities to dream bigger. We want to build a movement where skateboarding reaches beyond the cities and becomes accessible to more rural communities."
As the team continues its journey towards Lodwar, Ekeno hopes every kilometre covered sends a powerful message: that talent exists everywhere and, with the right support, even a skateboard can become a vehicle for transforming communities. He is also appealing to sponsors, including individuals and organisations to back the Push4Change initiative, saying their support will help turn the dream of building Turkana's first skatepark into a reality and create lasting opportunities for young people.