GIKOMBA MARKET IN NAIROBI - Clothes Treasure Market

It is the world’s biggest second hand market. It is a town within Nairobi, and even more than a town.  It’s all about clothes but not all of it is second hand because the sound of hundreds of Singer sewing machines has one gets there testifies to that. This is a very vibrant and energetic part of the capital city of Kenya and it is evident that there are people who have spent their entire lives inside the market. 

Bales of clothes all over the place, carts being pulled and pushed by delivery men along the dusty or muddy streets, people everywhere, shops with everything your heart might desire, and sweatshops with women hunched over their Singer while their fingers skillfully direct the fabric under the needle.

Young and old, male and female all find joy in accessing cheap clothes in Gikomba that are still highly fashionable.  Initially, those who flocked the Gikomba market in Nairobi were poor Kenyans looking for cheap fashionable clothes. Before long, however, the middle class joined in on the buying of cheap clothes in Nairobi. But so did the ‘entrepreneur’ businessmen in Kenya.

Shoppers are advised to be careful on the type of accessories they wear to Gikomba market as this can be an attraction for muggers.  Be weary of pick pockets and con men including street kids as the place is prone to such people.  It is prudent to shop during dry season as it is usually terrible during the rains because mud.

Customers to vendors at Gikomba come as far as from other countries because it is cheap to buy in wholesale, and one can get everything as it’s huge.  Most of the vendors do in wholesale and apart from clothes there are also hardware shops for furniture and groceries that sell in wholesale too, among other things. Therefore this is a place where to shop for low priced clothes.

How to Locate Gikomba Market from the City

Whether one is going to trade, looking for a sweet deal or just want to spend a couple of hours in a very special place, Gikomba is the place to look for and it’s very close to downtown.

Gikomba is located outside the central business district along Digo Road in Majengo area in Nairobi. To get to Gikomba one can board matatu number 7 along Luthuli Avenue.

A Word for the Unsuspecting Shoppers

Business dealers in clothes in Kenya wake up before the sun rise and set out to buy clothes in bulk from Gikomba Market in Nairobi. Then they set up shops and stalls all over Gikomba and wait for the unsuspecting shoppers.

These business people in Kenya elevate the prices of clothes so much that one would be better off buying brand new clothes from stalls in Nairobi city center.  Therefore, as I continue to give you information on different locations, preparation is key so as to be able to escape from the clutches of these business men and locate cheap clothes in Gikomba market and still get inexpensive fashionable clothes.

It is good to start your shopping in Gikomba early when the clothes vendors open shop.  This means that you will be able to find clothes that are fresh from the container and therefore you will be able to get well priced clothes.