TOI MARKET - Low Budget Shopping Spree

Shopping for clothes and shoes in Nairobi can be quite depressing as items are often overpriced. You walk in to a shop and fall in love with a top, shoe or dress and when you check the price tag out it’s like a slap in the face.

If you are hoping to look fabulous in the latest fashions without spending a fortune, this is where you need to go; it doesn’t matter what you want be it groceries, shoes, clothes, bags, furniture or jewelry. 

Toi market is one of the largest informal markets in Nairobi with over 5000 traders.  It is Nairobi’s most famous market for second-hand clothes aside from Gikomba.  It mainly sells clothes, but also vegetables and other small accessories.

Initially, Toi Market used to be an exclusive baby-clothing market but it has now turned out to have a balance between both sexes and all age groups.

When set to go, make sure that you dress in comfortable shoes and outfit as you would walk for hours and hours shopping.  Valuables are better left at home to prevent petty thieves.

The market has well organized stalls and accessible pathways and is a true treat for any shopper, as one can get whatever a greedy shopper’s heart desires and always at a bargain.  Just make sure you have your bargaining face on. They are well segregated, bubbling with excitement one can be able to move from vendor to vendor where each stall has either tops, shoes, jeans, jewelry, books, cooking utensils, carpets, food, dresses, office wear and the list is endless.

Directions to Toi Market

Toi market is located in the outskirts of Kibera slum, Nairobi, Kenya.  It lies on a by-street to Ngong Road (nearer Woodley and Adams Arcade).

The stalls are usually open from 8.00am to 6.30pm.

Matatus / Buses to get you to Toi Market

From town, one can board matatu number 8 which are usually found at railways bus station. If not sure, always tell the conductor to drop you off at Toi Market which they will happily do.

Another alternative is matatu number 3 or 4 which and alight at Adams Arcade. The matatu can also be boarded at Railways bus station.

Prices at Toi Market

Sure most of the items are second-hand and though their prices are low compared to other places, such as Kenyatta market, vendors argue that the quality is high. “We try to keep our reputation and not disappoint our customers”, says one of the vendors.

The prices for kids’ wear are quite reasonable ranging from Sh50-Sh400; these include pants, tops, jumpers, sweatshirts, polos, T-shirts…indeed, any kids’ wear can be found at Toi Market.

Though they do not sort clothes according to the designers, they say bales from Scotland are the best quality and the most expensive but this also depends on the season.

When to go for Shopping at Toi Market

According to vendors, Saturdays and Wednesdays are the best days to shop because these are the days that they mostly open new bales, so the choice is widest.

The other Side of the Coin

Traders take advantage of the high popularity associated with the market.  What was known as a thrift market for consumers has actually untouchable items.   Therefore exceptionally cute clothes have even been given a nickname, “camera”.  So, if you are on a slim budget and hear the word “Camera” just know that it will cost you more compared to others.

Toi Market is a market in Nairobi where to shop for low priced clothing, baby clothing, low priced shoes and many other accessories.