Kenya Tourist Site: Maasai Market

By Geoffrey Kerosi

Market is one of the most popular tourist sites in Kenya today. When you travel to Kenya be sure to visit Maasai Markets to buy high quality items to take back home. There are four Maasai markets around the city. These are as listed below:

·         Supreme Court Parking Lot ( Opens on Saturdays)

·         Jeevanjee Gardens  ( opens on Tuesdays)

·         Yaya Centre (Opens on Sundays)

·         Village Market Parking Lot

The market is famous for its wide variety artifacts such as: carvings, Maasai shukas, paintings and masks from West Africa as well as Congo. After visiting other tourist sites, it is a good idea to sample the high quality portfolio of our local artists. These are the people who make Kenya one of the leading tourist destinations in Africa. 

 {Photo: Some of the items sold at Maasai Market}

The Maasai Market at Village Market aims at achieving a great shopping experience for all shoppers. The products sold at these markets are of a very high quality. They are made prepared by artisans who are highly qualified in their work. 

The tourists find great souvenirs to take back home. These are products which cannot be found somewhere else. They are quite unique to the shoppers. The artifacts are used in home and office decorations among other common uses. 

At the Maasai Markets, there are hundreds of traders who bring their products for sale at the market. These traders as well as shoppers are provided with a high level security. That means that there are no incidences of crime or insecurity at the market place. It is a serene environment. 

At the beginning of the Maasai Market trading, there was a communication problem. This resulted to the introduction of brokers for a brief time. When the Management of the markets noticed that, they started offering translation services. The brokers were therefore eliminated. 

Getting Space at the Market 

Getting space at the Maasai Market is quite simple.  This is a first-come first-serve basis. The fees for market space are paid on a monthly basis. This is usually a 1 year contract which can be renewed or just allowed to elapse at the end of that period. The Village Market Management has hired security guards to protect the traders and shoppers at the market. That means that there is tight security. The management also directs people to seek a special permit before they take pictures or interview the traders at the market. 

The management always has special arrangements with the tour operators. These are the companies that ferry people to the Maasai Market tourist site. That brings a lot of convenience for the tourists and the traders. Maasai Market is a one-stop for all souvenir needs. 

Pricing of Items

It is interesting to note that prices of various items at the market place are not fixed. Shoppers are allowed to bargain. That is the best way to get fair prices for drawings, paintings, jewellery, carvings and African Garments. All these items are hand-made by Kenyan artisans. This is real the home of the most beautiful African artifacts. 

The Artisans

The people who make the artifacts are highly qualified. Some of them have international reputation in their area of specialization. They are highly skilled in the production of batiks, painted bowls, leather picture frames and paintings. 

The Maasai Market is conveniently located at West Gate on Mwanzi Road which is off Ring Road in Westlands. Foreigners who travel to Kenya will find this to be a serene and safe location. The management has stationed a dance troupe at the gate to welcome the shoppers to one of the leading tourist sites in Kenya. 


Contact the author on email: geoffrey.nyakundi13@gmail.com