Kenyans turned up in large numbers today for the much awaited opening of phase one of the Garden City Mall, which is situated off exit 7 along Nairobi’s Thika Superhighway.

Being a weekday, one would have expected a modest turnout but the no of shoppers who flocked the mall, not as mere spectators but to shop was overwhelming particularly in Nakumatt and Game stores.

Game, a retail giant, which is part of the Walmart Group has set base in Kenya for the first time and is the first floor anchor tenant longside Nakumatt supermarket, Tile & Carpet, and Victoria Courts.

Kenyans love for new things saw dozens of shoppers flock the store to sample goods that were on sale. As early as 10:30am the staff at Game were overwhelmed and the queue leading to the cashiers were extremely long.

As one lady who was walking around the Game store wearing a Nakumatt staff Tshirt exclaimed;

“These guys seem to be making more sales than us”.

“20 minutes on line just waiting to pay! This is crazy”, one lady who had a trolley full of household goods exclaimed.

A Game store cashier who was attending to her apologized for the inconvenience and urged her to bear with them for today.

Other stores which had opened today include Basic Intimates, Fiallis

The first phase of the Mall, which is fully leased, will consist of 33,000 square metres of retail space including 120 local and international brands spread across three levels.

THE PERFECT MIX

Garden City is the first development of its kind in East Africa, incorporating retail, residential and office space into one integrated design. Phase one of the project includes 76 sold out two and three bedroom apartments and duplexes, soon to welcome the first wave of tenants and owners into their new homes.

Development of the second phase of the project includes additional residential and retail space (transforming it into a 50,000 square metre Mall), a business hotel, and more than 25,000 square metres of office space.

This $250m project is backed by sub-Saharan Africa’s most experienced real estate developer, Actis in partnership with CDC and IFC