The best fashion and gift stores Kenya

Budget & Tips

In Kenya, and particularly in Nairobi, there's plenty to tempt your credit card. The pretty Kenyan designer boutiques and brands (fashion and accessories, design, decoration, leather goods...), which can be found in the capital, charge European prices. Local craftsmanship is rich and varied. Items that can be purchased in stores, hotels or shopping malls are generally priced higher than those on the markets; the products are selected and you won't have to haggle. On the other hand, haggling is still the order of the day in the markets, where there are fewer middlemen and you'll be able to get a good deal, but prices are always up for discussion... a lot.

What's very local

Every day, in every town and village, there are bustling markets. You'll find all sorts of tropical fruits, vegetables and meats (much appreciated by the flies!), as well as art objects, fabrics and clothing. Don't be afraid to venture out: the products are cheap, of high quality and offer direct contact with the local population. One of Kenya's largest open markets is held in Karatina (on the road from Nairobi to Nanyuki, 20 km before Nyeri).

Bargaining is a must! Assume that the starting price is higher than the normal value. Discussing and parleying is a common practice in the country, but don't get worked up: both parties should get something out of it.

Nairobi's Maasai markets are numerous. Apart from official days, small markets are sometimes set up in front of certain hotels. On the beaches of Mombasa, easily recognizable (and more or less authentic) Masai vendors will come up to you, selling necklaces, bracelets and other trinkets. They can sometimes be quite insistent, so if you're not at all interested, it's best to gently but firmly decline the offer.

With the country's economic development over the last ten years, and the emergence of a middle class with much greater purchasing power, the number of shopping malls has multiplied in the capital and the country's major cities. They have become essential landmarks, popular meeting places and places to live.

Typical products to bring back from Kenya: an original Kikoy (or kikoï), a hand-crafted sarong made from high-quality combed cotton in radiant colors; a shuka, the traditional fabric, dominated by red, that is the symbol and identity of the Masai people; Masai jewelry (necklaces and bracelets made from multicolored beads); why not a statuette of a giraffe or an elephant in various materials, bags, pouches or wallets in fabric or leather, toys and objets d'art beautifully crafted by Ocean Sole; and finally.... Kenyan coffee, one of the best in the world.