Editor's Review

These malls have stood out among the equals owing to the ultramodern facilities in them and the kind of brands they house.

With time, there has been a revolution regarding how customers' needs are met at their convenience. 

Owing to the need of having the customers served at one point and saving on time, the entrepreneurs devised these avenues for the purpose.  

The centers have amenities in them thus being convenient to customers with different needs.

Retail stores, boutiques, restaurants, and bookshops among other essential cash and carries have been integrated into the malls to serve their respective client bases.

With tens of such establishments in the country, Nairobi Leo looks at some of which have been acclaimed for quality services and ultramodern infrastructure including sporting and recreational facilities.

1. BBS Mall

The Business Bay Square (BBS) mall is currently regarded as the largest mall in East and Central Africa, dislodging the Two Rivers Mall which had been enjoying the privilege since 2016 when it was established.

Opened earlier this month, the mall sits on a vast tract in Eastleigh on the outskirts of Nairobi.

Giving it the largest mall status is the fact that it hosts over 3,500 shops for Kenyan and international merchandise.

Besides, the shops are 32 restaurants, 364 toilets, 12 banks, and over 2,000 parking spaces.

Owing to the amenities there, the mall is said to have the capacity of hosting over 150,000 shoppers and clients on a daily.

BBS is a culmination of partnerships by affluent Muslim tycoons who have settled for Eastleigh as their business hub.

The Business Bay Square mall captured in night hours. Photo: Courtesy.

2. Two Rivers Mall

The futuristic shopping hub had been regarded as the largest in East and Central Africa until the launch of Eastleigh's BBS mall.

Despite losing the spot, the Two Rivers mall still remains favourite among its routine visitors.

The mall is situated between Ruaka town and Runda, Gigiri locales.

It houses a handful of brands among them a branch of the Carrefour retail chain, LC Waikiki, Hugo Boss, Nike, Adidas, Java Express, and Samsung among others.

The mall is believed to be part of over Ksh20 billion investment by Centum Group majorly co-owned by the late tycoon Chris Kirubi.

Aerial view of the Two Rivers Mall on the outskirts of Ruaka town. Photo: Facebook.

3. The Hub Mall

The mall sitting on a tract approximated at 35,077 square meters in Karen was opened in February 2016.

Its ultramodern outlook has endeared it to visitors who get to enjoy the public Wi-Fi epic photo backgrounds, ziplining and jumps, Italian foods, gaming, and live bands among other reactions.

The mall houses Italian restaurants, LC Waikiki, a branch of the Carrefour retail chain, Chicken and Pizza inns, and Zucchini among other brands.

Billionaire Humphrey Kariuki is believed to be the proprietor behind The Hub mall.

A view of the Hub mall in Karen, Nairobi. Photo: Facebook.

4. The Waterfront

As the name suggests, the mall has a water lake in front of it.

The Waterfront mall is situated between Lang'ata, Karen and Ngong' Roads which all form the Karen Triangle.

The Waterfront Mall sits on an estimated 25,000 square meters tract. Photo: Facebook.


It houses a branch of the Naivas retail chain, a Game Stores branch that is exiting the Kenyan retail market, CJ's restaurant, Goodlife Pharmacy, Optica, Samsung, Armario Collections and Panarottis.

The Waterfront also has in it gaming facilities, including a fully-fledged aquapark.




It is an investment of the family of Nelson Muguku, a fallen tycoon with roots in the Kikuyu constituency.

5. The Galleria Mall

The mall is situated along Magadi road, outside Karen.

As it were, the Galleria mall houses a branch of the Carrefour retail chain, a branch of The Nairobi Hospital, Java, ArtCaffe, and KFC among others.

The mall has with it over 500 parking spaces.

Galleria mall is situated at the junction of Lang'ata and Magadi roads. Photo: Facebook.

6. Crossroads Mall

The shopping center in Karen is located about 20 kilometers from the Nairobi CBD.

It sits between The Hub and Water Front Malls at the Karen junction.

The mall houses a large grocery store, restaurants, eateries, fashion stores, a Quikcmart retail branch, shoe stores, an Equity Bank branch as well as a salon among others.

The mall is a stone's throw away from the new Karen Square Complex in Nairobi.

An outlet of the crumbled Tuskys retail chain was once a tenant of the mall.

Crossroads Shopping Mall in Karen, Nairobi. Photo: Facebook.


7. The Junction Mall

Located along Ngong Road, the Junction Mall houses various brands among them a Carrefour outlet, LC Waikiki, a Safaricom shop, photo studios, and Cooperative bank ATM services.

It had earlier housed a Nakumatt Supermarket outlet before the retail chain crumbled.

The mall boasts over 300 parking spaces.

The entrance of the Junction Mall in Nairobi. Photo: Facebook.

8. Westgate Shopping Mall

The mall regained its lost glory in 2015 after two years of hiatus following a terror attack from Al Al-Shabaab militants.

Westgate hit the headlines in September 2013 following the attack that left over 60 people dead.

It has been operational for the past seven years and currently houses over 80 stores including a Carrefour outlet and a variety of art and craft kiosks.

Entertainment outlets and restaurants ate also tenants of the mall which prides itself in upholding standards.

Located at the heart of Westlands along Mwanza Road, Westgate Shopping Mall boasts of over over 550 parking spaces.

A view of the Westgate Mall in Westlands, Nairobi. Photo: Westgate.