Yaya Centre

Yaya Centre is one of Nairobi’s early, enduring malls—developed in the late 1980s and opened to the public in 1992, anchoring Kilimani/Hurlingham as it grew into a major lifestyle and residential district. Set along Argwings Kodhek Road, it has stayed relevant by leaning into convenience: a compact, central layout that works for everyday errands as much as casual meet-ups. Inside, Yaya functions as a practical city hub rather than a “destination-only” complex. The tenant mix spans retail and services—fashion, electronics, supermarkets/food outlets, and a strong banking presence—making it easy to handle multiple stops in one visit without moving across town. Its biggest cultural pull is the Yaya Maasai Market, held every Sunday at the Upper Parking, where craft stalls bring colour and energy—beadwork, jewellery, textiles, carvings, and giftable Kenyan pieces—into the mall’s weekly rhythm. The centre also hosts other periodic activations like Yaya Soko (third week, Thu–Sun), reinforcing Yaya’s identity as both a shopping centre and a community marketplace. For planning, the mall publishes clear operating hours—Mon–Sat: 08:00–21:00 and Sun: 09:00–18:00 (with restaurants often running later)—so it works well for business lunches, quick weekday errands, and relaxed Sunday browsing when the market is on. In a city of newer mega-malls, Yaya’s edge remains simple: location, familiarity, and convenience that still fits how Nairobi moves.