Nairobi Retailers Report Higher Footfall Following Market Revamps

Retailers across Nairobi are reporting noticeable increases in customer traffic after the Nairobi City County launched a programme to modernise key market venues and upgrade infrastructure in several commercial centres. The county’s plan, announced on the same date, involves constructing 20 new modern markets in seven sub-counties to provide improved trading environments for formal and informal retailers.
The upgrades include better lighting, sanitation, structured stalls, wider aisles, and improved safety and accessibility, which have helped transform previously congested or informal trading zones into more organised retail hubs. For example, early phases of the county programme show that traders in revamped markets are benefiting from enhanced visibility and improved customer experience—elements that encourage longer visits and higher spending. Although detailed foot-traffic counts are not publicly released yet, the broader retail property research shows accelerating occupancy and stronger demand for quality retail spaces in the Nairobi Metropolitan Area, signalling that the structural improvements are having an effect.
Retail business owners say the positive impact is already being felt: more visitors, faster turnover of stock, and fewer complaints about congested market conditions. They add that when customers feel comfortable and safe, they tend to stay longer and spend more. Analysts observe that while the formal retail market still faces challenges such as oversupply and competition from e-commerce, the upgrades to physical trading spaces may help stabilise the sector by offering traders a better value proposition. That said, some caution remains—issues like stalled projects (e.g., the Mutuini Market redevelopment) point to the need for consistent execution.
Looking ahead, county officials plan to monitor foot-traffic and sales data from the upgraded markets and use those insights to scale the initiative across other wards by 2025. If the trend continues, these modernised retail hubs could boost local trade, support informal sector formalisation, and strengthen Nairobi’s position as East Africa’s retail destination.