Buying guide
Where to buy lamps in Nairobi: markets, supermarkets, online marketplaces and studios compared
Nairobi sells lamps in five very different places, and each one is right for a different buyer. We make lamps, so we have an interest, but the comparison below is the one we would give a friend.
1. Open-air markets and roadside stalls
Kamukunji, Ngara, Gikomba and the roadside displays along the main roads out of town. Cheapest by a distance, and you can see and touch everything.
- Good for: a lamp for a spare room, a rental, or a tight budget.
- Check before paying: the switch clicks cleanly, the cable is not stiff or cracked, and the plug is a proper moulded three-pin. Ask them to plug it in.
- Know that: the bulb is rarely included, and there is no one to call if it fails in a month.
2. Supermarkets and mall home sections
The home aisles at the big supermarket chains and the furniture floors in the malls. Convenient, priced clearly, and you can return it with a receipt.
- Good for: a quick, safe buy when you are already there.
- Check before paying: whether the bulb is included and what colour it is. Many ship with a cool white bulb that makes a bedroom feel like a clinic.
- Know that: the range is imported in bulk, so you will see the same lamp in a lot of other homes.
3. Jumia, Jiji and Instagram sellers
The widest choice in the city, delivered to your door. Also the widest gap between the photo and the box.
- Good for: finding a specific style you have seen elsewhere, or comparing prices fast.
- Check before paying: the seller's review count and how recent the reviews are, the actual dimensions in centimetres, and whether it is a UK plug or comes with an adapter.
- Know that: "designer" in a listing title means nothing. Look for photos taken in a real room, not on a white background.
4. Lighting and interiors shops
The specialist lighting shops around Westlands, Kilimani and the CBD, and the interiors showrooms. Staff who know the difference between 2700K and 4000K, and proper fittings.
- Good for: a whole-house lighting plan, ceiling fittings, or matching several pieces.
- Check before paying: the warranty terms and whether service is done in Nairobi or "sent back to the supplier".
- Know that: imported designer pieces start well above what most people plan to spend on a table lamp. Seelamp prices in Kenya for the bands.
5. Small studios and makers
A handful of Nairobi studios, ours included, make lamps here rather than importing them. You buy from the people who made it, usually over WhatsApp or a small website.
- Good for: a lamp nobody else on your street has, warm light in the box, and a person who answers when something goes wrong.
- Check before paying: real photos of the actual lamp, a physical pickup point you could visit, and clear delivery terms.
- Know that: ranges are small and pieces sell out. If you see the one you want, it may not be there next month.
Whichever you choose, check these four things
- Is the bulb included, and is it warm? A separate bulb adds to the price and a cool bulb ruins a bedroom.
- Does it dim? A lamp that only does full brightness is a lamp you will switch off early.
- How tall is it in centimetres? Photos lie about scale. A lamp for a bedside should sit with the bottom of the shade around shoulder height when you are propped up in bed.
- Who fixes it? Ask, out loud, what happens if the switch fails in three months. The answer tells you everything about the seller.
How we fit in
Sato Lamps is option five. Every lamp is made in our Nairobi studio, ships with a warm dimmable LED, and can be collected free from Travis Business Center on Mfangano Street in the CBD or delivered anywhere in Kenya for a flat KSh 400. Details on thedelivery and pickup page, and the full range undertable lamps in Kenya.