.jpg "BEST MTUMBA MARKETS IN KENYA")
In Kenya, very many people including the middle-class shop at markets for items like clothing, toys, shoes, beddings, etc. But it is the best-kept secret of the middle class who would not want to admit to buying clothes that are (mitumba) second hand or even new clothes that have been donated to charity. But even as they deny that they are buying these mitumba clothes and stuff and pretend to only shop in high-end stores and exhibitions you will find them on weekends especially at Gikomba, Ngara or Toi market (the Adams side) buying things without a care in the world.
The mitumba business is Kenya is booming. The business has
grown in profits and has opened up new markets since it started in the late
’80s when the middle class started sliding into the other class. Families that
used to shop in stores like Njiri’s and having tailor-made clothes for
Christmas also got into the habit of buying mitumba clothes.
The first Sunbeam (the one that burnt to the ground)
popularized buying second-hand clothes in town instead of going to the markets.
It was the earliest form of exhibition shop in the city centre. It is not
strange now to see even rich kids going to places like Toi market to get a
unique one of a kind items that cannot be found in the high-end stores which
sell such similar items that we used to call “Kenya uniform” back in the day.
Buying mitumba clothing is a great way of staying stylish on a low budget. When I was in College and University I used to sell second-hand clothes and shoes to supplement my pocket money. And course to have some cool clothes to wear to the rave. So I know a bit about buying and selling mitumba.
So what are the advantages of buying second-hand clothes and
items? They are
• Relatively cheap although some high-end items from Europe
could cost you a lot of money because of the quality
• You are able to get a variety
• You are also able to get quality items
• You can get fashionable items at a fraction of the cost you would get them in
Europe or the states.
There are a few things to consider when shopping for
mitumba. It may take a lot of time to rummage for what you are looking for. So
decide whether you want to go to the stalls at the market where they have
already bought camera copy – usually, the best quality of items or you want to
go into the open air kibandas to look for that cheaper option but which will
usually take a lot of time looking for the good stuff unless the bale has just
been opened.
Bear in mind that the things in the stalls are usually more
expensive as sometimes they have been washed or ironed and they usually each
have a different price. The mitumba that is in a pile usually are the same
price so it’s up to you to choose what you want. The mitumba in a pile are also
often musty or dusty, so bear that in mind if you have allergies.
1. The time you have. If you are looking for something and
you don’t have a lot of time consider going to a stall where they have arranged
or hang up the items of clothing. Although they are usually more expensive it
is easier to get what you are looking for. If you have a couple of hours then
you can do both, look at the stalls and at the makeshift bandas. Try to go
shopping before it gets too hot and you get dehydrated and tired. The best
times are around 9-11 when the bales are being open or after 2 pm. If you are
going to Adams any time is good because there is enough shade. Try to go during
the week as you are likely to have less competition in looking for items.
2. One of the best things when shopping is to go with a
friend. It stops you from getting bored and frustrated. They also know you so
can give you an honest opinion on how you look (don’t trust those people
selling. They will tell you everything looks good on you.) You can also have a
bit of fun looking at horrendous clothes you find and telling them that it
suits them.
3. One thing you need to have if you are going to buy
second-hand clothes is patience and a good bargaining attitude. You will be
ripped off if you can’t bargain. You might buy an item for 3 times the amount
it is worth. But if you know how to bargain you can get stuff at a pretty good
discount. It also helps to have a sense of humour. If you do not know how to
bargain carry a lot somebody who does.
4. You can either go shopping with a list of items to buy or
just go shopping with the attitude that I will know it when I see it. Whichever
way you are planning to shop, have a figure in mind of the amount you want to
spend. Don’t carry a lot of money. Believe me, you may find yourself broke
because you are unable to resist that cute sweater or those blue jeans. The
best way is to carry exactly the amount you need, plus money for transport and
lunch. That way you save yourself from impulse buying.
5. When shopping look for clothes that appeal to you by texture, colour or style. The texture is really important depending on what you really like. People are different. Some like cotton, linen, cashmere, silk, wool, leather or synthetics. Whatever you choose look for classic styles as they don’t date easily and they will stay in your wardrobe for a very long time.
6. Don’t buy things that you don’t really like just because
you think they are fashionable. Buy stuff that suits your personality
otherwise, you may never wear it. Ask yourself whether it matches with clothes
or accessories you already own. If it may need alterations or repairs and you
know you are not likely to go to a tailor to fix it leave it alone.
7. Don’t buy clothes that don’t fit you in the hopes that
you will lose weight or add weight. That leads to clutter in your wardrobe as
you are not wearing the item and you don’t want to give it away. You can buy
great quality clothes that are bigger than what you have if you know that you
can have them reduced and they will fit well. Otherwise buy clothes in your
current size.
8. Check clothes for tears and stains. This is really
important as it is sometimes heartbreaking to get home and find something you
bought for quite a bit of money has a stain that cannot come out or has tears
that are not easily fixed and you do not have time to go back to exchange your
purchase or the seller does not take clothes back once sold.
Some things like buttons missing can be replaced if you
really like the outfit and it is being sold at a reasonable
price. Remember if clothes have perspiration stains they will not come
out.
Another important thing is to check whether the colours of
the clothes look like they will run. Some clothes get ruined when washed
because the colours run and that also makes clothes age faster if they keep
losing some colour every time they are washed. Try to get items that are
colourfast because that means they will look good for longer.
9. Also check for clothes that have been resized. This
happens a lot in Kenyan markets nowadays. Something can be resized from a size
16 to 12 but the way it is resized makes the garment unwearable. These clothes
are usually sold by those guys who walk around with pants and dresses and who
do not have a place where you can try out the clothes so you just buy based on
the labels which are wrong.
10. Dress for going shopping. This has two aspects. Wear
something that you can wear something on top of. Most mitumba places do not
have a place to change so you have to wear the tops or dresses on top of what
you are wearing. Try to wear something that won’t look bulky under the things
you are trying out like a light cotton dress or a cotton-polyester blend that
sort of hugs your curves. Wear tights if you are going to try out jeans or
trousers.
Also, don’t dress in an expensive way when you are going
shopping for mitumba. Dress simply. The sellers can tell quality a mile away
and if you look like you can afford it they will charge 3 -5 times what they
would charge another customer.
11. Also be sure to check if the item you are buying needs
dry cleaning. This will be an added cost so you had better be sure that you
have the money to dry clean the item otherwise it may just clutter your
wardrobe because you can’t wear it much. Or even worse you could wash it in a
normal way and the item gets ruined.
12. After taking your clothes home make sure you wash them
in water with disinfectant so as to ensure that any germs or mites are taken
care of.
13. If you like a certain stall’s merchandise after going
there several times you can give the person your number so that they can let
you know if they have new stock of the items you like. Be careful about giving
your number because that person could keep calling you to tell you about new
stock and it may become bothersome. The alternative is to ask the person when
they usually get new stock so that you can go there and get what you need.
14. If you are going to be buying mitumba clothes as a habit
you could get a very cluttered wardrobe. It is important always to go for quality
over quantity. But you are likely to have too many things. The best thing to do
is every 3 months or 6 months to take stock of what you have in your wardrobe
and get rid of the things you don’t need. Ideally, you should do this before
you go shopping not after.
15. Some quick things to remember is to set a budget, go
with a friend, try things on so that you know what fits you, check the clothes
carefully for stains, tears or broken zippers, don’t buy things you can’t wear
at the moment, check washing instructions. Other things to remember is to go
with a bargaining attitude, a sense of humour and some water because shopping
can be draining and you will need to rehydrate yourself so that you can
continue shopping.
Happy shopping.
BEST MTUMBA MARKETS IN KENYA
1. Toy market
- It is
located next to uchumi supermarket near Adams arcade.
- There
are 2 toy markets one is very cheap and the other is expensive. The
expensive one is the one on the side of ngong road
- To get
there board a bus at ken-com that is headed to nakumat junction.
They mostly sell 1st camera
clothing that means the very best mtumba
And they tend to look new and are in very good condition.
The price range for
· tops
is 300-800
· dressed
500-2000
· coats
600-1500
· jeans-500-1200
· trenchcoats-700-2500
· shoes
500-3000
The price depends on your bargaining skills and how you are
dressed. If you look rich the price you will be given will be different compared
to someone else dressed in normal casual clothes. Do not go in your best outfit
but usibeat sana pia.
2. Muthurwa
- It is
located in town at the end of the road coming from Kenya polytechnic
basically the main road to get into town from Mombasa road.
- It has
very nice tops and official trousers and skirts.
There is a big challenge if you are a girl you will be
disturbed and not just cat calling they will grab your hand and will not let
go. Most sellers are male and for some reason wengi ni team mafisi. You have
been warned do not go there if you can’t tolerate it.The last time I went there
i was grabbed by 4 different guys at different stalls and they refused to let
my hand go so I did the obvious thing which is to scream mwizi and they let go
I never shop there since that incident. Am not kidding just go there and you
will see what am talking about. Maybe jicho pevu should go there and catch
those bad men in action they be exposed. I even saw them grabbing high school
girls.
Price range 200-800
3. The town hawkers
- Am
referring to the ones who keep being chased by kanjo. Mostly during the
day you will find them from koja stage till the globe roundabout. The
clothes are very cheap and it is because they are not paying rent. The
kanjo chase them since they are not paying any fee that’s why the war
between the two is not ending any time soon.
- They
sell everything from tops, coats, official trousers, tights, khakis,
dresses, shoes and trench coats.
At night they move to the pavement from koja stage towards
Sanford and son, outside Kenya cinema, outside tuskys daimaand
outside diamond plaza.
Price range 100-700.
4. Bus station
The station with the matatus for langata, Strathmore and
south c.
On your left coming from afya center you will see a bus
terminal and also some people selling fruit salads. There are a lot of stalls
selling cute mtumbas both cheap and expensive 1st camera.
Directly opposite the stage you will see stalls selling
shoes and handbags.
The price range is 200-1000.
5. Sunbeam mall
- Its
located next to bust station getting the entrance is tricky so just anyone
who has a shop around bus station and they will show you.
- They
tend to have the very first camera clothes but you will pay a high price
for them.
- They
have very cute dresses for functions like weddings.Theofficialdresses are
very beautiful.
- The
price range is 800-4000.The cost is high but you can get very unique cute
dresses.
6. Town tents from
kencom to Kenya cinema
These are temporary stalls and you will see them mostly on
weekends. They sell camera but they tend to be expensive but if you got the
money and you do not want the hustle of the other markets it will be convenient
for you.
Price range 500-2000
7. Shops in a
basement next to tuskys bebabeba after the stage for roysa/usiu mats.
The road with the usiu matatus go with it and you will see
it on your left.
They have tops, dresses and coats. The price range is
500-1000.
8. GIKOMBA
This is the cheapest of them all. All the ones mentioned
above have gotten their clothes from this market.
The matatus are opposite the matatus for going to juja or
jkuat.Along the road opposite the back of national archives. You can also walk
from town-After muthurwa cross the road and walk past the bus stage you will
see a road going downhill follow it till the end and you will see gikomba.
You can get
Duvets, sportswear, maxis, tops, dresses, jackets,
trenchcoats, handbags, official tops etc.
Price range 10-500 max
Anything above 500 blame it on lack of bargaining skills.
THE GIKOMBA RULES FOR SUCCESS
·
Do not dress cute whatsoever.
· No jewelry,no fancy
hairstyles
· Speak Kiswahili while
there
· To get the best stuff
get there at 6am yes I said 6 am.That is when the sellers from toy etc. go to
get the first camera.
· You have to be tough as
sometimes you can grab cute clothing and someone can yank it from you.
· Go with a cheap phone
and if not do not use your expensive phone as you can be followed and robbed.
· Do not wear sandals as
there are places that are alwaysmuddy even during the hot season
· Going to the market past
lunchtime there is no need all the good clothes have been sold.
· This mostly for people
buying to resell or for those trying to save.
· The same clothes in toy
are there you just need a good eye
· You will need to go
through huge bales of clothes to find the cute stuff but it’s worth it.
· There are always guys
carrying huge bales on the pathway give them way as they will knock you down
without caring.
· Do not ask the seller
the price if there are another customer next you asks them instead.
9. OTHER extra mtumba places not
very big include
· Roysambu
next to the matatu stage all the way to thika highway till the foot bridge.
· Kawangare
they have lots of stalls there
· Near
fedha
· Opposite
nyayo stadium from 4pm to 8pm very nice official trousers
· Nairobi
west near discount shoppingcenter
MTUMBA TIPS
- Wash
before wearing
- Mtumba
is not for poor people leave that mentality at home I see rich people with
range rovers shopping mtumba at toy market and even foreigners.
- If you
are into fashion to get unique pieces in Kenya mtumba is the way to go as
boutiques tend to sell exactly the same thing. In WBC and jumia malls and
the stalls on Moi Avenue sell the same exact clothes just at different
prices.
- Check
the pockets after buying you could find some $$$ true story
- Even
the new clothes you buy have been worn before by someone at the dressing
room and they do not wash them after they are worn. So just like mtumba
has been worn before the same applies to the new clothes you buy. So even
new clothes wash before you wear.\
- Bargain
bargain bargain in mtumba you always bargain never buy at the price the
seller tells you. If they tell you a top is 600 tell them you have only
300 then pretend to walk away most of the time they will tell you 500 or
450 and if you are hardcore like me you will stick to 300 and they will
cave in.
That is it for mtumba locations in Nairobi if you know any
other place do let me know.
kwaheri
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