Where to Buy Sneakers in Nairobi - A Brief Guide

Nairobi is one of the most interesting cities you can ever visit. We have almost everything to capture your imagination - amazing scenery, lovely parks and even one of the fastest internet connections in the world. If you're looking for a place where to buy sneakers in Nairobi, though? You're fresh out of luck. Sort of.

You probably know Kenya for producing the best long-distance runners in the world. With that, you'd think finding a decent sneakers shop in Nairobi would be easy. You'd be wrong, surprisingly.

It's technically possible to find sneakers and shoes anywhere you look. Sneaker shops riddle the city all along Tom Mboya street and hawkers overflow every other road close enough. If you're diligent enough, you might even head to Gikomba bright and early to get some cheap wares. We aren't lacking in quantity by any stretch of the imagination, but the quality of shoes a lot of these shops offer is often downright appalling.

The Problem With Where to Buy Sneakers in Nairobi - Low-quality Shoes

To understand why quality is often so bad, you'll need a little background. Good-quality fakes are pretty expensive, so such replicas barely ever their way to Kenya. And when they do, the prices are so outrageous you're better off buying second-hand shoes. Those are a lot cheaper and will probably be much better quality.

Wholesalers purchase fake products by the thousands from countries like China and flood them in low-cost markets like Kenya. Considering how little these purchases cost, retailers don't need to sell too many to make absurd margins. Heck, even second-hand sneakers in Nairobi will cost you an arm, a leg or both if you have zero bargaining power. But that's not the topic we'll be exploring in this guide. Rather, we'll address what brought you here today - where to buy sneakers in Nairobi.

It's not all doom and gloom. Kenya is a quickly-developing nation with almost unlimited possibilities. Since the discovery phase is one of the most difficult to get past, today we'll explore ten different sneaker shops in Nairobi, how they operate and how we rate them.

Selecting the Best Sneaker Stores in Nairobi - What Criteria Did We Use?

Any ranking list is only as good as the criteria used to select what turns up where on said list. Following that, our list wasn't random. We narrowed down on the following criteria when selecting who gets to turn up and where they appear on the list:

Value proposition - what do they do differently?

The most important selection criteria we had for this list was the value proposition. Due to the sheer volume of places where to buy sneakers in Nairobi, we couldn't possibly go through (and possibly visit) each one of them.

As such, the very first factor we used to select stores featured on this list was their value proposition. Stores that were picked are those that had something more to offer than just shoes. Maybe they offer free delivery, have a very lenient returns policy or only stock, say, Converse shoes. That's unique enough to have them featured!

Online presence & activity.

Nearly every Kenyan today has access to the internet, and it's playing a larger role in SMEs than at any other point in history.

With the pandemic still ravaging the country, having an online presence is not only advantageous, it's almost downright necessary.

In other words, if the store in question doesn't have an online presence, it's not on this list. If it does have an online presence but isn't active - no new posts, does not respond to customer queries, etc, it was also ignored.

Physical Presence

In Kenya and most of the developing world, we don't yet enjoy the same premium e-commerce experience as the developed world. Having a physical store is a pretty important step to gaining the trust of prospective customers.

Reviews - what do people say?

Finally, another important criterion used for this list was people's general opinion of the store. This was taken to mean primarily two things: stores with large online followings are given a boost, but if that following holds a mostly-negative opinion, it's relegated.

With that, I hope you're ready to explore our favorite sneakers shops in Nairobi. Do keep in mind that this list is not in any particular order. You're free to make up your own mind.

Where to Buy Sneakers in Nairobi

Retrobie

Here's an interesting one for you.

Retrobie is a relatively new kid on the block. It was launched in January 2020 as an online-only shoe store. Specializing specifically on sports shoes and casual sneakers.

We have a variety of shoes for everybody. We sell men and women's shoes - sneakers, basketball and sports shoes. The range of products we offer ranges from popular brands like Air Jordans, Converse shoes, Nike Running shoes to more niche sports brands like Kevin Durants (KDs), Lebron shoes and Kobes.

As far as brands go, we are decidedly the most beautiful/functional website in Kenya, but we'll let you be the judge of that. Our checkout system is also pretty smooth and we accept a range of payment systems - Mpesa, cash and Paypal included.

And if you're not convinced, one of the most attractive things about us is our friendly return policy. We accept refunds on any product you aren't satisfied with within 7 days of delivery, either for an exchange or a refund on your purchase cost.

One area we especially stand out from everyone else is our areas of specialization. The team is dominated by sports and sneaker enthusiasts, so every shoe that's listed on our platform undergoes thorough vetting before it's uploaded. We're also big fans of sports - basketball, football and athletics - which should explain our huge catalogue of shoes other than the usual sneakers.

What's to love:

• Value proposition:
  • Offers original shoes only - no replicas.
  • A friendly returns and refunds policy.
  • Stocks a range of shoes, including affordable ones
  • Website is functional and easy to navigate
  • Smooth checkout flow.
  • Offers refunds.
• Online presence & activity: Moderately active on Instagram and Twitter.
• Physical presence - N/A
• Reviews

What's not to love

• No physical location
• Young brand. No market reputation

Verdict: It's tough being your own judge and jury, but we're proud of what we do and aren't afraid to brand ourselves the best sneaker shop in Nairobi. Since we're such a young brand, we've still got a lot to prove, but we're ready for that challenge.

Kicks & Apparel Kenya

Kicks Kenya comes in a close second for 'best sneaker shop in Nairobi' primarily because of the exponential growth they have achieved in what's a relatively short time. Started as a concept in January 2019, the company has quickly grown into one of the most easily-recognizable apparel brands in Kenya.

They specialize in providing their customers with high-quality sneakers at pretty affordable prices. Most of their products range from anywhere between Ksh. 3,000 and Ksh. 5,000.

The company's mantra is "As Seen on Screen," a phrase that refers to the company's exclusive use of real pictures and videos to represent its products on social media. By the time you decide to buy from them, you should already have a good idea of what you're going to get.

But their true strength comes in the sheer volume of Air Jordan shoes they have for sale. From popular picks like the Air Force 1s to more hard-to-find brands like the Nike Air Max 720, their selection of Jays is almost unbeatable.

What's to love:

• Value proposition-
  • "As Seen on Screen." Everything you purchase should be the same as what you see on social media.
  • A huge catalogue of shoes to pick from
• Online presence & activity -
  • The company has 30k followers on Instagram at the time of writing this article which is both hefty and respectable to have done within a year. They post regularly both on Facebook and Instagram which gives them even more props.
• Physical presence (Yes)
  • They have a physical store at Monrovia street, and their displays are a doozy.
• Reviews (4+)
  • Mostly positive (Instagram, Facebook)

What's not to love

• A bit pricey. However, you should be the judge of that.
• Other than Jordans, their selection of shoes isn't all that impressive.

How to reach them: Instagram, Facebook.

Verdict: Being so well established in such a short time, K&A has quickly proven to be one of the most reliable sneakers shops in Nairobi. It's well worth a try.

Shoe Empire

Despite what the name might suggest, "Shoe Empire" sells everything from chains to ripped jeans. The venture was started back in 2015 so they take the crown for "longest-running business" on this list. Since this guide is about where to buy sneakers in Nairobi, we'll stick to our specialty.

They promote themselves as "the place to buy the cheapest quality men's footwear," the implication being they are an outlet at which you can purchase relatively cheap sneakers in Nairobi. However, a little doubt may be cast on this claim because none of their products are listed anywhere online.

They don't have the most diverse selection of shoes out there - mostly sticking to mainstream features like Air Force One and Jordan 11s. If you're ever on the lookout for more specific or more recent pairs of shoes, you're probably out of luck.

For what it's worth, this store has earned its place on our list because it has the largest Facebook following of any brand on this list.

What's to Love

• **Value proposition -**Customer service. What this brand lacks in variety, it makes up for in the quality of their customer care team.
• Online presence & activity: Despite their large following, social media interaction is on the lower end of the spectrum.
• Physical Presence: Located at Revlon Profession Plaza
• Reviews - (N/A)

What's Not to Love

• Restrictive returns policy - goods can only be returned within 24 hours of purchase

How to Reach Them: Facebook

Verdict: While not as ambitious as Retrobie or well-loved as K&A, Shoe Empire certainly has been around for a while so if nothing else, customer loyalty is there.

Kick Store Kenya

Kick Store Kenya is another relative newbie in the online space. They launched late 2020 to early 2021 and have one of the most impressive catalogues on this list. From Nike Air Max React 270s to hard-to-find brands like Yeezy Boost 750, they are a definitely a store worth checking out.

What's to love

• They feature a sizeable collection of shoes.
• They offer refunds
• Their website features a variety of payment methods.

What's not to love

• Their website features 'fake' offers that are always running. The "Deals Of The Day" banner at the top of their home page resets if you don't visit the page for a while, and the actual deals dont' change daily. This is a dark pattern and causes them to be featured lower on our list.
• They do not have any online presence other than an email address. This is understandable since they are a young brand, but at least one social media page is necessary in this day and age.
• Their relatively-cheap price for hard-to-find brands brings to question whether certain products are authentic or not. We haven't purchased from them (yet!) so we can't deliver a verdict.
• They 48h return policy is one of the shortest we've seen featured on this list. A 7-day+ policy is market average.

Footshop 254

If you're a person who bases their opinions on products you're yet to try mostly on reviews, then you're in luck. Footshop254 stands out from other entrants on this list because it's the best-reviewed store so far - with an average rating of 4.8/5 over 12 reviews on Facebook. They deliver countrywide, and the rave reviews are in large part a reflection of this.

It is more geared towards maintaining its traditional standing as an offline-first shop above all else. If you also prefer to do all your shopping in person, this might be the perfect shop for you to try.

• Value proposition - Unclear
• Online presence & activity: Moderately active.
• Physical Presence: Yes.
• Reviews - 4+

Where to reach them: Facebook

Laces KE

The final entrant on our list stands out from the rest because of their interesting choices in pricing. Kenya is one of the most price-sensitive markets in the world. Safaricom and Airtel's eternal wars to pricing to the bottom is a product of this. That's relevant because Laces KE is by far the most expensive store on this list. The cheapest products cost about Ksh. 6000 and go all the way to the tens of thousands.

It costs a pretty penny, but if the reviews are anything to go by, it's worth every cent. They arguably have a better rating than any other store on this list at 4.7/5 as reviewed by 53 people.

• Value proposition - Good quality for the buck.
• Online presence & activity: Not very active
• Physical Presence: Located at Marsabit Plaza, Ngong Rd.
• Reviews - 4+

Honourable mentions

Jumia

Surprise, surpise! Africa's largest e-commerce shops makes the list of places you can buy original sneakers in Nairobi, but only barely.

Jumia has a surprising range of quality sneakers for sale - with great, authentic pictures to boot. The biggest issue with them, though, is that all authentic sneakers on the platform are imported from 'abroad'. Considering all the authentic-looking listings cost upwards of Ksh. 10,000, it's a great challenge purchasing said shoes, because there's no guarantee where 'abroad' really is. Are you importing them from South Africa? Canada? The UAE? China? And what happens if the shoes get here and they aren't what you expected? They don't offer refunds for shoes imported from abroad.

Otherwise, Jumia is still yet to make a dent in the fashion market, with most shoes being offered there being terrible Chinese brands. Granted, if you want something to last for the next three or four months after considerable use, the generic brands offered on Jumia aren't absolutely horrible. Go for it.

Notes

• While we tried out best to be comprehensive with our guide to where to buy sneakers in Nairobi, we realize it's impossible to achieve 100% accuracy with our information. A lot of businesses have no online presence whatsoever and yet offer good quality services. This article is not a reflection of that.
• Businesses that exist solely on Instagram/Facebook and have no traces of themselves anywhere else present a significant challenge to research/get in touch with. Such stores weren't featured. This may change in the future, however.
• We cannot guarantee every store on this list offers quality products, despite what their pages say (aside from our own, of course).

Conclusion

Nairobi, and Kenya as a whole, still has some ways to go before we can get to the direct-to-consumer levels of goods delivery and public satisfaction that bigger brands all around the world enjoy.

These sneakers shops in Nairobi have been featured because they either show promise, have achieved quite a bit or are very well-loved.

Is that all?

We tried to be as neutral as possible when writing this article and we realize huge chunks of different places to get sneakers and second hand shoes in Nairobi were left out. Future articles will address both this and perhaps feature the best Instagram and Facebook shops in Nairobi, too.

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