The Maasai Market Guide: Locations, Shopping Tips, and Prices

The Maasai Market Nairobi

The Maasai Market is a modern display of an indigenous people’s culture. It is in Nairobi and one of the most spectacular moments that one can ever experience in Nairobi Kenya.

The Maasai market is where the local and international tourists can find most of their favorite heart desires including paintings, drawings, clothes, African pots and pans, most of East African prints, jewelry, wood carvings, a variety of Kenya hand-made by the local artisans, as well the tourists can brag themselves souvenirs and also gifts from the market through bargaining according to the bargaining power that they are having.

The Maasai Market – Guide

The Maasai Market in Nairobi, Kenya is a lively open-air market that sells a variety of handmade crafts, clothing, and souvenirs. The market moves to different locations around the city on different days of the week.

A Gift Guide to Nairobi’s Maasai Markets

The most useful items to buy depend on your choices, but here are some top suggestions that reflect the artistry and legacy of Kenya:

Beaded Jewelry.
Maasai Shukas.
Wood Carvings.
Soapstone Sculptures (Kisii Soapstone).
Maasai Shields and Spears.
Leather Goods.
Textiles (Kikoy and Kanga).
Paintings and Artwork.

What to expect:

Bargaining & Language

Bargaining is part of the fun of the market experience. If you are not Kenyan, you will almost always be quoted a substantially higher price and should be prepared to bargain hard, but respectfully. Speaking some Swahili will help place you as someone who knows what you are talking about and who does not want to be ripped off.

Greeting someone with jambo will mark you as a tourist while using sasa or sema will make you appear more familiar with the Nairobi terrain. It is important to note that this can be seen as impolite towards a much older person however, so you should stick to asking how their day is going: ‘Habari za leo?’.

Bargaining Tips for the best rate

After walking around the market, and noting the traders with the items you want, you can now proceed to buying the item. Haggling is part of our culture as locals so be ready to engage in some back and forth. Here are some tips on how to bargain for the best prices.

Ask for the cost of the item casually
Upon hearing the cost of the item, act shocked
Tell the seller that you have half of that amount
Go ahead and tell the seller that’s the only amount you have and you were actually looking for something else
If the trader is unyielding on their rates, start moving to another trader and chances are, they will not let you go to that other trader
After negotiating with the trader, you can offer to add something little above your stated amount and the deal will have been sealed.

A few more useful phrases:

Si leo—‘Not today’—Use this if you are not even remotely interested in what someone has to offer.

Nitarudi—‘I will return’—This can be helpful if you are actually interested in something at someone’s stall, but either want to shop around more, or are hoping that they will come down on the price. It is always advisable to do a lap before purchasing. There will be a lot of similar products available but quality and prices will often differ, so shop around.

Ni ghali—‘It’s expensive!’—Feel free to really over-exaggerate this one for maximum bargaining leverage.

Bei ya mwisho—‘Last price’—Use this to announce your final offer.

Knowing some basic numbers to bargain in Swahili can also be a huge help, but don’t worry if you don’t master them all. The traders will be happy to let you know their prices, often with calculators in hand for some added drama.

Useful tip—Many artisans will be more likely to bargain either first thing when they open up to get a ‘first sale’ or in the evening just before closing up shop.

Local artisans

The market supports local artisans from the Maasai community and other Kenyan tribes.

Where to find the market

The market moves to different locations around the city on different days of the week.

Maasai Market Days in Nairobi

Tuesday

location, near Text Book Center
Prestige Plaza, 1st floor Rooftop Parking,
Ngong Road

Wednesday

Capital Center, Mombasa Road

Thursday

The Junction, 3rd-floor Ngong Road

Friday

Village Market, Limuru Road
Galleria Shopping Mall, junction of Langata Road and Magadi Road

Saturday

Nairobi Law Courts Parking, City Center
Adams’ Arcade, Ngong Road

Sunday

Law Courts Parking, City Center
Safari Park Hotel, Thika Road
Yaya Center, Argwings Kodhek Road
Adams Arcade, Ngong Road

The Maasai market opening hours

Monday. Closed
Tuesday. 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Wednesday. 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Thursday. 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Friday. 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Saturday. 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday. 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

What To Buy

Beaded Jewelry

Necklaces, Earrings, and Bracelets: Maasai beadwork is famous for its intricate designs and vibrant colors. These pieces are typically made from small, brightly colored beads and often carry cultural significance

Traditional Maasai Shukas

Shukas are brightly colored cloths worn by Maasai men and women. The shuka is an iconic symbol of Maasai culture. It is frequently red with checkered patterns and symbolizes cultural pride, boldness, and community.

Wooden Carvings

You will find wooden carvings of animals, like lions, giraffes, elephants, and rhinos. These are beautifully crafted and make great souvenirs or home decorations.

Leather Goods

Leather Bags, Wallets, and Belts: These are often handmade from locally sourced leather and can be adorned with Maasai beadwork, making them both functional and stylish.

Maasai Sandals

Traditional Maasai sandals made from leather are available in various sizes and styles. They are simple yet durable and often handcrafted.

Tips for Shopping at Maasai Market Nairobi

Be specific on quality. Don’t buy an item if its finishing has not been properly done. Instead, look for a seller who has perfected the quality of the item. This is more so for items like wall hangings, ornaments, or kitchenware.
Be the typical Kenyan even if you are a foreigner. Haggle till you run the seller out of breath. Kenyans have perfected the art of haggling. This is how;-

Identify the item you want. Don’t ask for the cost of an item before you have made up your mind that you want it. This also applies to other markets such as Gikomba, Toi Market, and the street vendors.
Take a walk around the market first before settling on what to buy. As you walk identify the artisan who is more creative in their use of colors, function, and cheaper in cost, and consider your preference.
Understand the purchase terms properly. The purchase terms will determine whether you will be given the cost in Dollars or using the dollar as the exchange rate. It will also determine how much markup the sellers will increase. On the other hand, a foreigner can get a local friend or guide to take them and negotiate on their behalf.
It is important for foreigners not to allow to be guided by the traders found at the market. This is because there are some self-appointed guides in the market who will seem like they are doing you good offering to show you the best items, asking what you are looking for and trying to engage in small talk. Be very weary of them, they will get a commission from you then proceed to extort any artisan you bought from or worse, they could be trying to con you.
Make sure you have changed your money into Kenyan Shillings before proceeding to the Maasai market.
Refrain from buying common tourist items such as Safari Hats, & Safari T-Shirts. They will be costing an arm and a leg. Get something else that still says you were in ‘Africa’.
Engage the artisan and find out if they are the ones who made the item. These artisans at Maasai market like to talk about their work and be appreciated. As a result chances are, you will end up getting a discount.
The markets at Kijabe Street and the High Court parking have the best rates as they are perceived to be for locals as opposed to those in up-market venues such as malls. This is even though the items and the traders are the same in all these markets.

Maasai Market Online

The Maasai Market is also available online Click Here!

Maasai Market Empowerment Trust (MMET)

The Maasai Market Empowerment Trust (MMET), an NGO for artisans at the Masai Market and other parts of the country, seeks to inform, educate, and empower artisans and handicraft makers on intellectual property and protect their creations and inventions through patenting and trademarking. Seminars, campaigns, workshops, and other awareness programs have been used to do this.

The trust also hopes to give financial help to members to expand their businesses. The trust organized an intellectual property rights campaign to agitate for the return of the kiondo (basket), kikoi, and other Kenyan innovations that have been patented elsewhere, to their rightful owners.

The Maasai market prices

Prices at the Maasai Market vary depending on the item, quality, and your bargaining skills. Since it’s an open-air market, prices are not fixed, and negotiation is expected. Here’s a general price range for standard items:

Shuka Banana Fiber Nativity: $39.99
Mtende Tiered Coconut Shell Pendant Necklace: $14.99
Mzuri Mini Maasai Bead Bowl: $17.99
Tano Cow Horn Disk Necklace: $15.99
Kisii Soapstone Heart Set: $28.99
Maasai Bead Wire Jewelry Box: $24.99
Giraffe Wood Salad Server: $17.99

Maasai Market Contacts

Postal Address: P.O Box 1983
West Jordan, UT 84084