WHERE TO BUY THINGS AT A BARGAIN IN NAIROBI

1. Cereals – Get them in Nyamakima in that kichochoro for Molo matatus. Groundnuts from the market cost Sh190 per kilo, but at Nyamakima they are Sh110. You can also get apples and other fruits at a good price.

2. Diapers and bar soap – OTC. The kichochoro between Tuskys and Equity.

3. Chemicals for homemade detergent, bleach, fabric softener, disinfectant – OTC, the building with Tuskys, go upstairs, first floor. They will even explain how to mix them.

4. Bulk shopping – If you can manage to go to Kawangware or Eastleigh, you will save a lot. In Kawangware, go to Samrose in the market. Alight at Mlango Soko, then at Cooperative Bank, go down and turn at the first right turn, walk about 20 metres and you will find SamRose. Go with a list, they will give you the prices. If you are buying things for a shop, they deliver. Alternatively, you can turn left and walk a bit for like 100 metres where you will find many wholesale shops including FairPrice. Also look out for Israel. In Eastleigh, as you walk towards the Catholic Church or if you are coming from Pangani, just after you take the right turn to enter Eastleigh, you will see the Marie Stopes sign board, the shops start there. If you are an uptown girl, on the upper side of Biashara Street just before you join Koinange Street there is a Muhindi shop that sells groceries at wholesale prices. It’s opposite Yala Towers. He also has storage and garbage bags at a good price.

5. Beauty products and jewellery – Perida Centre, Dubois Road, and basically Dubois Road.

6. Vegetables – Marikiti and Gikomba. Bunch of spinach @ Sh15, bunch of sukuma wiki @Sh10, terere @15, manage @20, 6 tomatoes @10, onions @ 1 bob, 4 maize cobs @20, etc, especially outside Marikiti.

7. Vegetables for those who live in Eastlands – Go to Korongosho market early on Wednesday or Saturday mornings. It is at the Dandora, Kariobangi roundabout. Buy carrots, peas, potatoes and onions from the lorries; it is cheaper than inside the market.

8. Meat – Ndonyo Market Dagoretti for Sh280 a kilo. Burma Sh200 to Sh250 a kilo.

9. Fish and chicken kienyeji – Gikomba. When you get to Gikomba, ask for the place where fish is sold. It’s a whole building opposite where newborn clothes are sold. It’s on the right as you walk towards the market.

10. Fish – Alpha Foods, Road A, Enterprise Road, you’ll get 40 pieces of tilapia @Sh1700. They close by 4pm. The boda boda guys can direct you.

11. Wine/alcohol – Opposite Kensilver matatus on Dubois Road, there is a club with better prices than Mwalimu on Mfangano Street. Also check Accra Road where the 2NK matatus are in the hawkers market building, go to 3rd floor there are many wholesale shops there.

12. Utensils – Kamukunji. Kamukunji is those sides as you head towards Machakos Bus Station.

13. Prescribed medication – Try Transchem next to the bike shop above or the Transchem ooposite Afya Centre. There is also another chemist near the number 4 matatus, where the hardware shops are. Sinai Chemist at the Nairobi Textiles building is cheaper than Transchem. It is at the intersection where the Kenya Mpya buses queue, opposite a building under construction, surrounded by iron sheets (mabati). Accra Road also has a stretch of affordable chemists.

14. Panties and bras – At the junction of Accra Road and River Road, directly opposite Kobil Petrol Station, there is a small corridor where panties and bras are sold. The quality is better than Kamukunji and cheaper than Mombasa Rest House on River Road. You can also buy kids’ vests, bikers, boob tops and tummy trimmers there.

15. Shoes (heels, flats, sandals and sports). Get these at Bus Station in those vibandas facing matatus for Mater/South B. They range in price from Sh300 to Sh1,000. You can also get nice sweaters and jackets there. Also check Toi Market and those near Thika try KIANDUTU

16. Shoes for women with wide feet – Bus Station the upper side where vegetables are sold, just near that path that leads to Mfangano Street. There are guys who sell nice second-hand Clarks and Nine West official shoes and boots for Sh800 to Sh1200. They also have rubber shoes and loafers.

17. Heels at a much better price than Backyard Shoez (e.g Forever 21 @Sh2K). Go to Emirates Collection on Tom Mboya Street.

18. Doll shoes – Kamukunji.

19. Bata Toughees/Bata Bullets – At the Bata distributor at Kamukunji on your way to Gikomba. Does wholesale and retail.

20. Official dresses, skirts, trouser – Bus Station near the City Council toilet. Gikomba from Sh200 for skirts.

21. Khaki trousers – Kenyatta Market; very nice ones at Sh650.

22. High-waist jeans – Amal Plaza, entrance C, turn left. Some ladies there sell them at Sh700 or less.

23. Maternity trousers – Bus Station.

24. Kids clothes – Gikomba, Kwa Cucu, or ask for children’s clothes, you will be directed. Also check Toi Market, Kamukunji and Eastleigh.

25. Curtains and carpets – Eastleigh. At the Garage roundabout, walk a few metres on your left. Alight at the second stop after St Theresa and walk towards Amal Plaza, you will find many malls selling curtains. Go to the various shops comparing prices and fabrics; you will be spoilt for choice. Comparing prices before you buy will ensure that you don’t buy overpriced curtains.

26. Gym wear – Directly opposite The Bazaar as you walk towards Koja, there is a lady hawker who sells gym wear at night. Bottoms go for Sh200, jackets for Sh300 to Sh350. You can also buy tops at night outside Jade Collections.

27. Hair braiding – At Old Nation for cornrows for Sh500.

28. Fabrics – Go to Nairobi Textile upstairs for vitenge, while at the back (walk straight from the entrance), you can get fabric for office wear. Nairobi Textiles is next to Malindi Dishes. For Kitenges, River Road opposite Bata Mini Price has cheaper fabrics than Nairobi Textiles. Also check Zion Kitenge past KCB on River Road. Eastleigh too at Sh900 for six yards, you can even get at Sh750. When you get to Eastleigh, ask to be shown kitenge house. There are also other fabrics too.

29. Toys – Kamukunji. Mutindwa in Estlands for best kids toys, especially for boys.

30. Bicycles for kids and adults – Directly what used to be Jack and Jill Supermarket, walk towards Uchumi House and you will see a big shop selling bikes only. Ask them to tighten the bike and to sell you grease. (some people in the comments expressed disappointment in the quality of the bikes they bought there). Even accessories are very cheap. I bought stabilisers there at Sh350, while someone somewhere else had quoted a price of Sh1700. You can also get garbage bags there for Sh350 instead of Sh600 at the supermarket. Someone else bought Sh280 at Eastleigh.

31. Bathroom accessories and lighting for those who are constructing – Walk past that Tuskys that is just past Thika matatus, and you will see a whole street of shops selling stuff. They also sell toilet seats, decorative mirrors and many other things.

32. Bedding (duvets, bed sheets, bed covers, mosquito nets) – Kamukunji. You can also get bed sheets and other bedding at Kwa Cucu in Gikomba for maximum Sh500.

33. Shaggy mat making materials – Keekorok Road, also has exercise books and stationery. It’s cheaper than Biashara Street.

34. Fibre/pillow filling and sofa fabric – Gikomba.

35. Car spare parts – Impala on Tom Mboya Street, near the number 9 matatus.

36. Water storage tanks 210 and 310 litres – Kamukunji.

37. Plastics – Mansi Traders at Tausi House in Kamukunji, an Indian shop.

NB: In Kamukunji, there are both genuine utensils and fakes. 38. ALL ELECTRONICS TRY LITHU. 39. electrical appliances near nyamakima