Guide to Kenya

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Shopping in Kenya is similar to shopping any where in the world. It is probably more similar to the USA than to the UK because there are a number of different big shopping areas/malls rather than a town centre. If you go to these areas expect to find lots of western style shops. Not international names such as GAP, H and M and many other High Street names, but it is not hard to find a shop for what you want. Nakumatt, Uchumi and Tusky's - Food shopping and more Nakumatt is the leading superstore in Kenya. The slogan is 'You need it, We've got it' and on large that is true. There are Nakumatts everywhere selling everything you really need to eat to home furnishings. Uchumi is another popular supermarket which is government run. It is not as nice aesthetically as Nakumatt but has a good choice of food, not as western as Nakumatt. Tuskys is also another brand of supermarket which is around. However, I have only been in one once so don't really know how it compares! Prices The prices of food in Kenya varies dramatically depending on how much you want to change your diet. If you want to eat exactly as you did in your own country then things will probably be more expensive. All western food is imported and taxed often from Western Europe or South Africa. South African food is generally cheaper than food from Europe or the US. A good example is a box of Kellogs Corn Flakes. These are easy to get in Nakumatt but cost KSH600 about £5 UK. However staples are cheap and you can pick up rice and vegetables quite cheaply. If you are prepared to venture out of the safety of the shopping Malls, you can get some great deals from street sellers or from Dukas (little shops at the side of the road). These guys have great prices, are often very good quality produce and of course, if you are unhappy with the price you can always negotiate. There are also some good local butchers. There are also smaller stores in some of the smaller arcades which are not chains. One of these is an old colonial style store, where you can still get credit and pay your bill at the end of the month. It is called Karen Provisional Stores and is in, surprisingly, Karen. They have a nice selection of food and often some more rare items aimed at the expat market. Clothes There are a lot of different clothing stores within the malls. A good quality one is a South African chain called Woolworths (nothing to do with the UK chain). A cheaper store, also from SA, is called Mr Price, they also have a home store as well. If you are happy to buy good quality second hand clothes, then you can go to the market around the back of Adam's Arcade. It is the famous Toi Market where you can buy lots of Western imported clothes. You will find clothes from H & M, Marks and Spencer, Next and many more UK retailers. Nice stuff too and not that expensive. You can get a good deal but remember the second hand value of anything is much more in Kenya than the Western world. I have been there many times and it is a safe place to go. Just be aware of surroundings and the fact that you are almost on the edge of Kibera, Africa's largest slum, where people are very poor. Furnishing Your House Again, this depends very much on your budget. You can buy everything at Nakumatt if you are in a rush. You could look at the boards around supermarkets where people sell items they no longer want. At certain times there is a lot due to lots of expats finsihing contracts around July time. If you want to have fun, support local economy and get some nice items then you can buy from the side of the road. There is a number of different places where people are selling furniture one of the most famous, which offers the most choice, is along Ngong Road. Here you can choose your furniture including, beds, sofas, drawers, tables and chairs and lots more. Of course nothing is priced but you can have a lot of fun bartering. Just be prepared to walk away if you don't like the price. I found it a good idea to look for the same item at a few different places and see how low I could get it. There are also a number of different second hand furniture shops. The City Centre The town Centre is an area I have not mentioned yet because it is an are I do not go to a lot. The traffic in town is very busy and there is very few places to park. However, if you do venture into town there are the usual shops you would expect in a city centre plus a few more. Also prices can be cheaper in the centre. However just make sure you stay aware as pick pocketing and petty crime is common. Other Shopping Areas I have set up a map with some good areas to go to when in Nairobi. Just click the link below.

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