Feature: Malls spice Kenyans shopping experience

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Feature: Malls spice Kenyans shopping experience

(Xinhua) 13:37, August 21, 2013

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NAIROBI, Aug. 20 -- The malls are revitalizing Kenyans shopping experience, with hundreds of people trooping into the facilities scattered across the city each day.

From about three malls located in high-end residential areas in the past, the number of the shopping centers in the capital has tripled in the last three years as the facilities become the shoppers' first choice.

From Rongai, to Nairobi West, to city center and to areas along Thika superhighway and Eastlands, the story is the same -- shopping malls are coming up fast.

Some of the areas have more than one shopping mall, majority of them opened recently.

In the past, most of Nairobians were in a supermarket, others in mobile phone outlets, restaurants, coffee bars, chemists, clothes and shoes shops and book stores, as more still trooped into facility, but now, shopping malls replace ordinary retail outlets.

In the last few years, one could never imagine that there could be a shopping mall in some of the areas in Nairobi, but thanks to rise in population and peoples' spending power, the centers have come up and they are thriving.

"Malls have changed my shopping experience for the better. These days I do not shop at any other place apart from a mall," said telecommunication firm worker Jacinta Abuya.

Abuya lives in Fedha estate on the east of Nairobi. In the area, there is a shopping mall named Taj, which she has been frequenting ever since it was opened over a year ago.

At the mall, there are two banks, several automatic teller machines, a discotheque, a supermarket, chemists, food court, clothes and shoe shops and mobile money outlets.

This means Abuya and other shoppers can most find of the things they want under one roof.

"Since they set up the mall, I have never shopped any other place. I usually go at the mall, withdraw money from ATM or mobile money shops, then buy things that I want. I like it because I access all the service at one point and it is safe," said Abuya.

The mother of three usually goes with her children for shopping at the mall or others in the capital.

"I go with them to shop, especially at the weekend, since we find people to paint their faces there, adding flair and fun to our shopping experience," she said.

About eight km from the Taj complex is another facility, Greenspan mall, which was opened about two years ago. As others, the mall has a supermarket, several banks, clothes and shoes shops and a clinic.

The outlets offer shoppers chance to buy all they want under one roof until late into the night. It is a new shopping experience that many in the area had not sampled before.

Few years ago, residents who wanted such shopping elegance would have had to visit Westland's, where one of the first shopping malls in the capital was located.

"I used to go all the way to Sarit Center in Westlands when I wanted shop with my family. I have a car, so it was a little easier for me. I would go there with my family and have good time shopping," said Vincent Musya.

Musya, who lives in Jacaranda estate, no longer does that since the shopping mall is about 300 meters from his house.

"Sometimes we just walk to the mall and buy what we want. Construction of the mall is one of the best things to have happened to residents of this area," he noted.

As many others in the city, Rongai and Karen residents are spoilt for choice when it comes for places where they can shop. There are Galleria and Maasai malls, both new and a few km from each other.

The shopping malls have popular supermarkets, banking facilities and several other businesses. "I no longer need to worry about banking services at odd hours and days since there is a branch of bank I belong at Galleria. It opens until late in the evening and during weekends," said Samuel Kimor.

Kimor noted shopping malls have changed the way Nairobi residents shop. "One feels free while shopping since the buildings are huge and you can get everything you want under one roof. I no longer go to ordinary supermarkets anymore," he said.

The malls, however, are not limited in Nairobi alone, they have spread to various places in the East African nation, including big towns like Kisumu, Nakuru and Mombasa and small ones like Kakamega.