Kenya's growing Mall culture amid changing consumer tastes and preference’s.

Kenya’s retail sector has witnessed a tremendous growth over the last  20 years from the Mama Mboga's kiosks, Dukas and supermarkets to more sophisticated, complex and posh shopping malls that are now becoming a permanent feature in Nairobi , the country’s capital and even spreading farther to other cities like Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, Nakuru , Naivasha etc.  Not long ago,   one couldn’t imagine buying local fresh vegetables like Sukuma wiki (kales), Kunde (Cowpeas) from the groceries in the shopping malls. Today there is growing preference for organized shopping by the middle class Kenyans who are more conscious on Quality, health and would want to purchase various items under one roof, something that the unorganized retail market of Mama Mboga, Mitumba traders and dukas do not offer.

Though still in its nascent stage, organized  retail market  is beginning to dot each urban centre in a largely rural country that is starting to urbanize thanks to devolution.The future looks bright for investors in the retail sector. The African development estimates that there are roughly 327 million middle class income earners in Africa or 34 % of the African Population while putting the Kenyan middle class at roughly 17% , which translates to 7.65 million people. It must however be noted that currently the mall culture is highly fuelled by a returning diaspora, wealthy refugees, foreign nationals working for UN agencies  and other multi nationals setting up their shops in Kenya to tap in the oil and gas sector, tourists and the wealthy local individuals.

Kenya offers immense investment opportunities in the retail sector that is largely  being driven by an emerging middle class out to experience new forms of shopping; they are young, educated and tech savvy youths, discovery of oil, coal and gas and a stable political climate. The first shopping mall to open its doors to the public was Nairobi’s Sarit centre in 1983; it sits on 250,000 sq. ft. with 4,000 parking lots and  has 300 seater cinema hall .A flashmob dancing inside the Sarit centre mall in Nairobi's sub district of westlands.

The village market shopping Mall.

Construction of the mall began in 1992 before it was finally opened in 1995, the mall covers over 225,713 sq of leasing space. The mall offers an outdoor food court and other restaurants, Health and fitness spas, Recreational and entertainment facilities, african artifacts shops,Bowling alleys inter alia. A documentary of the mall detailing what products and services it does offer to the public.

Yaya Centre Shopping Mall

Located in the upmarket kilimani estate in Nairobi , Yaya centre shopping mall is product of the late eighties with over 100 shops to be found within the complex . It's home to fashion chains like Truworths, Woolworths and with close to over 100 furnished apartments for both short and long term accomodation besides there is  chinese restaurant and an Italian restaurant on its 1st Floor and  a supermarket on the ground floor . A short   video clip  on a  group of tourists shopping at Yaya centre .

Garden City Mall Nairobi. 

A 250 million dollar investment that  recently opened it doors it clients on 28th May 2015, just shows us how ready kenya  is  for a  formal retail market. A clip on the mall during its inaugural debut to the clients.

Naivasha's Buffalo Mall.

Located off the Nairobi Nakuru Highway , in the Rift valley was launched in February 2015 , its opening is clear indicator of just how the other urban areas are ready for the shopping mall culture.

Other upcoming malls are  Two Rivers Mall being undertaken by the centum investment group

The Hub Karen Mall which is  set to open in september this year has already seen French supermarket Carrefour sign up for space as a tenant .

 I have not fully exhausted the Nakumatt chains of Mall that are spread in other parts of the city and the country  but just focused on  the main ones and the upcoming malls. In a nutshell the mall culture in kenya has just taken off from just under 3 reknown malls in the 90s to over 20 malls in 2015 and the numbers will continue to grow as the government invests heavily in education, health, infrastructure and the Energy sector.