List of the largest malls in Kenya To ensure accuracy and credibility in the ranking, we used data from reputable travel and lifestyle platforms, including TripAdvisor and Holidify. These sources provided insights based on official reports, visitor reviews, expert recommendations, and comprehensive listings, allowing us to create a well-rounded and reliable comparison. Additionally, we gathered information from official sources associated with the specific malls, including their websites and management reports. Below is a definitive ranking of five of the biggest malls in Kenya. Mall Size (In SQM) Business Bay Square (BBS) Mall 130,000 Two Rivers Mall 67,000 Garden City Mall 33,500 The Hub, Karen 35,000 Westgate 30,000 1. Business Bay Square (BBS) Mall The BBS Mall. Photo: @bbsmallnairobi (Modified by author) Source: Instagram Location: General Waruinge Street, Eastleigh Nairobi Size: 130,000 SQM Year opened: 2023 Business Bay Square (BBS) Mall, one of the newest and largest malls in Kenya, sits on a 6.4-acre piece of land. It was constructed at an estimated cost of Ksh 25 billion. The shopping complex comprises over 1,000 retail outlets, office spaces, and entertainment facilities.
BBS also houses 85 restaurants. It has a parking area with a capacity for 2,200 vehicles as well. Additionally, it has three hospitals and 25 banking and financial service providers. Does BBS Mall have a mosque? Yes, there’s also a mosque within the premises designed to accommodate approximately 1,500 worshippers. Who owns BBS Mall? BBS Mall is owned by Ten Commodities and Wholesalers Limited. The company, registered in 2018, operates as a business group with its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. What popular stores does BBS Mall have? The Business Bay Square Mall has multiple levels, each hosting a variety of businesses. LUXOR and KANZU HUB operate on the lower ground floor, while the ground floor features Kaizen Curtains. The first floor accommodates Giordano, LC Waikiki, and Jaff’s Optical House Ltd. On the second floor, you can find dining options such as CJ’s Restaurant, Big Knife, The Spring Noshery, Pizza Inn, and Pizza Hut. Financial institutions, including Gulf African Bank, I & M Bank, and Nairobi South Hospital, are on the third floor.
Is BBS Mall the largest in Africa? No, it is not the largest mall in Africa. The Morocco Mall in Casablanca, Morocco, is. It covers approximately 200,000-250,000 square meters of floor space. It was designed by architect Davide Padoa from Design International, a London-based architecture firm, and opened on December 1, 2011. 2. Two Rivers Mall A section of Two Rivers Mall. Location: Limuru Road Nairobi Size: 67,000 SQM Year opened: 2017 Before the opening of Business Bay Square Mall, Two Rivers Mall was the largest mall in Kenya. This mall, which was developed by Two Rivers Lifestyle Company as part of a Sh25.1 billion mixed-use project, occupies 102 acres within the Diplomatic Blue Zone. The land on which Two Rivers Mall is built on was originally owned by the Koinange family and was purchased for Sh1 billion. In 2019, this mall introduced a 60-meter-high Ferris wheel, “The Eye of Kenya” the tallest Ferris wheel of its kind in Africa. By 2022, the mall had also launched the largest cinema screen in East and Central Africa. RECOMMENDED FOR YOU David Maraga says he’ll inject KSh 2m in his presidential campaign kitty: “I don’t have money” The mall also has office spaces, hotels, residential units, and medical facilities. It houses over 180 stores, 19 eateries, and 40 office spaces and provides 1,900 parking bays. 3. Garden City Mall Garden City Mall. Photo: @Master Power Systems LTD Source: Instagram Location: Thika Rd, Gumba, Nairobi Size: 33,500 SQM Year opened: 2015 Garden City Mall is about 15 kilometres from Nairobi’s central business district along Thika Road. It opened to the public on May 28, 2015. It has been popular among Kenyan shoppers, especially due to its strategic location. At the time of opening, Garden City was the largest shopping mall in East and Central Africa until Two Rivers Mall surpassed it in 2017. This mall accommodates approximately 100 retail stores and provides 2,200 parking spaces. It also features over 15 dining establishments, including cafes, fast food outlets, and restaurants. 4. The Hub, Karen The Hub, Karen. Photo: @Snippets of Nairobi Source: Instagram Location: Dagoretti Rd, Nairobi Size: 35,000 SQM Year opened: 2016
The Hub, Karen is situated in Nairobi’s affluent Karen neighbourhood. It accommodates local and international retailers, making it a popular one-stop shop compared to other malls in Nairobi. The Hub has over 85 stores and attracts approximately 55,000 weekly visitors. It includes over 1,200 parking bays and more than 1,300 dining seats. The mall’s construction was planned in two phases. The initial phase, excluding parking, covers a gross area of 30,000 square meters. This is where you find the retail outlets, office spaces, a gym, a children’s play area, a gaming zone, medical facilities, and outdoor aerial activities. One of the mall’s most popular landmarks is the 2,000-square-meter piazza and clock tower. The space around here is also known to host various activities, including travel exhibitions and shows.
5. Westgate The Westgate shopping mall. Location: Mwanzi Rd, Nairobi Size: 30,000 SQM Year opened: 2007 Westgate Shopping Mall, a five-storey commercial complex, was inaugurated in 2007. The mall offers extensive retail space and accommodates more than 90 stores. In its early days, Westgate was popularly known for having prominent brands of the time, including Nakumatt and Planet Media Cinemas, as key tenants. The mall provides more than 700 parking spaces and adheres to high international standards in the shopping centre industry. For this reason, it attracts a diverse and affluent clientele, catering to a specific demographic with cosmopolitan tastes.
By Nicholas Nganga, Clinton Nyabuto
