CBD shopping deals
Biashara Street means business street in Swahili. The street is a hodge podge of fabric stores, and baby wear shops located in the centre of town, in the Central Business District. Many queries of mine had been met with the answer ‘go to Biashara Street’, so when I first visited it was with much enthusiasm. The reality was a little disappointing. Where once the street was known as the Indian
bizarre, now the Chinese have joined the fray. The small street is filled with multitude shops stocking cheap baby wear and other low cost items.
Certainly some of the earlier glamour associated with the street has worn off. I was expecting a long street filled with wares of all kinds, the street is unimposing and at first appears little different from many others in Nairobi. However, if you take the time to burrow a little deeper and there are still bargains to be had.
5 bargains on Biashara Street
Mosquito nets
I went for mosquito nets. The nets your can buy in supermarkets here are rubbish. They may be cheap but they are scratchy, rough and don’t even come with an entrance. Nothing like scrambling for the loo in the middle of the night and finding you are trapped in your own bed. I was given a few numbers to get mosquito nets made and the price was comparable with those I found on Biashara Street. But who wants to wait days or weeks or a net whenever every night mosquitos are having a little feast on your legs. On Biashara Street, all of the many curtain shops sold large lovely nets, with material tops, bottoms to weigh the sides down and voluminous amounts of material. Very Arabian nights. We paid 3000 for a single and 5000 for a double.
Kikoys, Kangas and Maasai blankets
I love Kikoys. I use them as towels, as blankets, as sarongs and I’ve made cushions for the outside sofa with them. With my liberal usage I’m completely uninterested in paying 1000 shillings for one in a posh shop and prefer the variety and price of them on Biashara. There are a few shops selling Kikoys and Kangas along the road. The shops are a treasure trove of these beloved local wraps. stores piled high with wraps of all colours and even a range of clothing. The price is half what you will pay for in a boutique shop and even below that in the Maasai Markets. I found lovely Kikoys for 500 shillings. The Kangas & Maasai blankets are also far more reasonable.
Tourist stuff at local prices
If you love the wooden carvings, beaded jewellery and soapstone carvings that are seen at every tourist spot and the Maasai markets then you could do worse than head here to get them a little cheaper. There are a few shops down the road that specialise in these items. Small shop doesn’t mean little stock… items are stacked as high as the ceiling and vendors far more open to taking a cheeky offer.
Fabric
There’s at lest 10 shops on the street selling fabric. This is the place to come to shop for material. All of the shops will make curtains for you and point you in the right direction of an excellent tailor to whiz you up a new dress. Interestingly, you can buy Kikoy material on a roll (by the metre). So if you want an extra large Kikoy cushion or an extra large pair of Kikoy pants this is also the place to head.
Baby items
I baby items a little reluctantly. Whilst the street is filled with shops selling baby items not all of them looked great quality. I’d say it’s worth a trip to stock up on cheap clothes, cups, pram, cots, and toys but remember that cheap doesn’t always mean good value. If anyone knows of a great shop that stocks quality items then do let me know and I’ll happily mention it on here.
Local tips on how to get the best deals.
I went with my lovely Kenyan friend. As I pulled out my wallet and prepared to buy the first net I liked, he shook his head in disgust. Here are his tips on how to get a good deal on Biashara Street:
Visit all of the shops before settling on what to buy. Check out every shop as they all stock slightly difference variances on a product and will all quote very different prices.
Don’t ask how much unless you are genuinely interested in buying. When you find a product that you like ask the price and then walk on to the next shop. At the end you will have an idea of what is available and what prices are being charged. If you like something but it’s more expensive than another item, you now have the opportunity to go back and haggle.
Haggle: something I’m terrible at. I’m English to the core and the idea of asking someone to give a discount gives me the wobbles. This is where you can use the fact that you have been to other shops and they have a cheaper price. Ask, ask and ask again. I known*cringe*.
Be polite. Use Swahili. Leave with a smile.
For other shopping bargains in Kenya check out this post on my 5 favorite Kenyan brands
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