Mutkos Hitech Roller Skating Club

Rolling into wealth, health in Nairobi’s Mlolongo

Tina Khavesa, roller skating coach, attends to one of the budding skaters in Mutkos Club. Roller skating is gradually gaining popularity amongst Nairobi residents. Photo: Pius Maundu

When Lorna Ochieng finally settled for Syokimau, an upcoming residential community overlooking Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to the south of Nairobi’s CBD, she still harbored some misgivings about the whole relocation idea.  Like any other parent, Ochieng was worried of the consequence of the decision on her daughter’s welfare. 

Worse still, two months before she finally moved in, Ochieng suffered the shock of her lifetime after authorities bulldozed bungalows neighboring her house in one night. Luckily, she had procured legitimate land that was not subject to legal tussles with the Kenya Airports Authority. She finally moved in only to start agonizing over the lack of social amenities in the new community. That Syokimau lacked such facilities as sports grounds where her 8 years old daughter would take part in physical activities further convinced Ochieng that she could have hurriedly decided on Syokimau. 

Does owning a home mean increased susceptibility to frustrations and inconveniences? These worries would end with the discovery of Mutkos Hitech Roller Skating Club, a budding roller-skating club in the neighboring Mlolongo market.

Mutkos Hitech, a brainchild of Samuel Mutua, 30, began in earnest in April 2012. “Before then, I used to practice in this ground with my fiancée before people got interested and requesting for training and the use of the facility. Around the same time, we acquired some roller skates and protection gear from Francis Mutuku, a well-wisher who would later become the manager of the club. This way, we were able to accommodate the first batch of trainees. The rest is history,” offered Mutua. 

Mutua is a seasoned roller skater who has continued to hone his skills in skating since his childhood days in Umoja estate. “When I relocated to Mlolongo, I brought with me this passion, and landed a suitable place for training,” he explained, referring to the 4-kilometre truck lay by overlooking the factory premises of Allpark Industries Limited, manufacturers of cartons and sacks, in Mlolongo. 

Barely a year later, Mutkos has flourished. Besides the scores of excited skaters, children, teenagers and adults, rolling up and down the track, I could easily tell of the high level of activity in this club from the scores of posh cars parked alongside the extensive track. Starters and those who were yet to muster the requisite balance enjoyed the full attention of the instructors. Conspicuously, everyone taking part in the skating had protecting gear ranging from helmets, reflective jackets, to knee and elbow guards. This prompted my interest in knowing what it took to have the skating business rolling. 

“Immediately we acquired the skating kits, we began thinking business,” Mutua offered, adding that the need for management and instruction came to the fore.  “Luckily, we started with our own. Mutuku’s three children became the first batch of trainees. However, it did not take long before the crowds of spectators who milled along the track every time we practiced translated into clients,” he added. “Today, we are talking of over 200 regular clients, ranging from children to adults, both men and women mainly from the neighboring Syokimau, Kitengela, Ellan Park, Easy Park and Valley View estates.”

Outliers like Moses Njenga come from as far as Dagoretti for very good reasons. “My plan is to take these skills to Dagoretti where I will start training skating enthusiasts,” said Njenga, adding that such facilities are lacking in that part of Nairobi.

Mutua went ahead enlisting the challenges associated with the sudden business growth. Acquiring appropriate gear and the security of the track were amongst the greatest challenges facing the club. Growth brought with it the need for additional staff, according to Mutua. "We have two of our coaches here today," he said, pointing at a muscular man whom he described as Frank and a lady who I later learned to be Tina Khavesa.  “Besides investing in more skating shoes, and paying the coaches, we heavily prioritize on safety. From the nature of this activity, it is imperative that we emphasize on personal protective equipment and first aid kits,” he said.

That many enthusiasts of roller skating could have difficulties affording their own skating shoes was anticipated during the development of Mutkos according to Mutua. Here, one can lend a pair of high quality skating shoes at only 200 shillings (USD 2) for two hours. Those with their own skating shoes pay some minimal registration fee to enjoy the services of the instructors and the facilities. 

With such humble beginnings, one would easily excuse Mutkos from giving back to the community. On the contrary, the club has a program of incorporating children who are not able to raise the required amounts of money to register. “We train them for free,” offered Mutua, adding that these children must pay back by exhibiting high levels of discipline. “They should be clean, courteous both here and back to their homes,” he added. 

Thanks to this discipline, two of such beneficiaries, who had dropped from school, recently found their way back, according to Khavesa. “Such influences on these children make working here worthwhile,” she told me before excusing herself and rolling back to the track to assist a middle-aged woman with balancing on her skates.

 “By taking part in these activities, I feel that I am applying my skills and passion to meaningful causes in the society,” Khavesa offered, when she came back from the track. By this, I quickly remembered that she would be most suited to inform me on the benefits of roller-skating. “Skating is an intensive physical activity and thus helps in burning down body calories,” she offered. She went on justifying how such activities as skating should be encouraged today owing to the tendency of people to lead sedentary lifestyles. “With physical activities, one significantly reduces the chances of suffering from life threatening disorders such as obesity and cardiovascular diseases,” she added.

Khavesa went ahead explaining how roller-skating stood above all other sporting and physical activities. The thrilling nature of the activity makes very it interesting such that one would be involved willingly, she offered narrowly missing comparing roller-skating with jogging. This explains the irresistibility of roller-skating especially with youngsters that Ochieng concurs. “Once she enrolled, my daughter has been quite energetic. She seldom spends the weekends watching television or even playing video games. Over the weekend, everything has to stop so that I drive her here to skate,” she said, in a celebratory tone. 

Brian Omondi, 10, a recent member of the skating club concurred that roller skating is thrilling. “It feels close to riding a bike but it causes more fun. You see, in skating, especially if you can balance, you feel that you are on top of the world,” he said, before adding that he is thankful to his parents for introducing him to skating. He expressed optimism that one day he will be a skating champion. 

With all these benefits of roller-skating, I had to inquire whether the club will last at least long enough for more people to benefit. Mutua was optimistic that the club would maneuver all the challenges such as the dependability of the track. Meanwhile, they are in some agreement with the local Mavoko Municipal Council to continue using the truck lay by for roller-skating. The fruition of such endeavors will be a welcome move to the many skating enthusiasts around Mlolongo. Meanwhile, Lorna Ochieng will keep frequenting Mutkos Hitech Roller Skating Club every Sunday afternoon excited that she has identified a way to keep her daughter engaged.