The Top 10 Event Venues in Nairobi

Any truly global city has a series of fascinating and dynamic entertainment venues that not only its populace but also tourists from around the world can enjoy. Rest, relaxation and enjoyment are all integral parts of life which have to be satiated in wide array of ways, and the more diverse a city’s offerings the more vibrant its citizens.

We introduce you to a list of Nairobi’s top 10 most popular entertainment venues for 2012. These are arguably the best entertainment spots in the city with regular events taking place as well as unique features that set them apart from other feature spots in the capital:

10. National Museums of Kenya
A convincing extensive renovation transformed this once dreary and colonial-themed artifact into a spectacular modern showcase of heritage. Pristinely set on Museum Hill on Nairobi’s Central Business District periphery, the National Museum’s location is perfect because of its proximity to downtown as well as the massive crowd it would easily attract.

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Facilities at the Museum include an adequate auditorium which has hosted a number of high profile awards and nomination nights such as the 2012 Groove Awards nomination night and some album and artiste launches. Conference facilities are also an extra feature as well as the wide collection of artifacts celebrating the history of this great country and which is the hallmark and purpose of the National Museum.

9. Westgate Shopping Mall
One of the city’s newest and most luxurious shopping malls, Westgate is strategically tucked away on the border of the plush neighbourhoods of Northern Nairobi and the bustling Westlands business and entertainment district.

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This is not just any shopping mall, it features hundreds of niche retail shops, banking facilities, cinema halls , coffee shops and restaurants. The layout of Westgate also makes it attractive to festivals, theme performances and mini-concerts.

 

8. Kenyatta International Conference Center
The KICC has for close to four decades been the hub of all conferences and concerts in the wider East Africa, ranging from exhibitions to award ceremonies and political functions. Numerous multipurpose halls, state of the art support equipment, extensive grounds which can handle enormous crowds and the fact that the tower is smack in the middle of the city and the greatest landmark in the country make it one of the most ideal entertainment. 

7. Bomas of Kenya
The broad rotundra of the main arena at the Bomas of Kenya makes it the perfect setting for any conference or extravaganza that requires most of the audience seated and observing while still maintaining a central and focused orientation. With a capacity of about 2,000 people, an extensive garden area and the additional feature of the iconic displays of historical African artifacts and homesteads would provide attendees with more to do while at the venue.
Its location on the outskirts of the capital also provides a peaceful and welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of the Central Business District but may prove quite the challenge to maximize on the numbers of those who may attend an event, considering the fact that the area is mostly accessible to residents to the South of Nairobi.
The Bomas of Kenya has hosted a series of concerts and conferences which include the Schools and Colleges Drama Festival, Zuku’s Night of a Thousand Laughs which featured leading comedians from across the continent as well as the Tusker Lite edition with American RnB singer Joe Thomas performing.
Click here to read more about Joe’s performance in Nairobi

6. Uhuru Park/ Central Park
One of the capital’s most iconic recreational areas, the adjacent parks provide city residents with a welcome breather from the intense human and vehicular traffic just across Uhuru Park. Families and couples can be seen strolling through the greens on weekends, enjoying boat rides and the amusement park to the far right corner of Uhuru Park.

Across Kenyatta Avenue is Central Park, a more relaxed setting with a simple children’s playground adn traffic learning area. The Nyayo Monument is also popular with both local and foreign tourists as photographers regularly indulge interested people in taking photos with the monument as a backdrop.

5. The Village Market
Nairobi’s self-proclaimed theme park, one of the largest in the region as a matter of fact, the Village Market provides a unique blend of functionality, originality and a spectacular fusion of technology with all that is vintage African. You can book your Kenya Airways flights, stay at the 5-star Tribe Hotel or go swimming at the large and intricate waterworld all within the same complex.

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4. Nyayo National Stadium
The largest of all leading entertainment venues that make the list, the stadium is of course primarily used as a sporting venue for both national and international football matches, and even rugby tournaments such as last year’s Safaricom Sevens.

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Countless other feature events such as marathons and concerts also transform Nyayo into an amazing experience, much like the Kenya LIVE grand finale and the Mater Heart Run. The close to 30,000 capacity stadium makes it the perfect choice dor event organizers, not forgetting its central location, in comparison to the more modern Kasarani Sports Complex.

3. Impala Club Grounds
The highlight of Nairobi’s Ngong Road, the Impala Grounds provide adequate greenery and grass for outdoor events that shouldnt be too far from downtown in order to attract a sizeable crowd.
Proximity to shopping malls, health and fitness facilities as well as a residential area and hospital make it another attractive venue to hold events.

2. The Sarit Center
The establishment’s by-line describes itself in a nutshell – A City within a City – you can find all there is to find for an entertainment seeker. From the days when Yaya Center, The Mall Westlands and the Sarit were the only shopping malls in the city, this venue shook off its constrictions and underwent a massive expansion project that saw it more than double its size and features and now boasts an impressive collection of all-you-can-eat, all-you-can-spend and all-you-can-watch facilities, including 3D cinema halls and a dedicated gaming section.

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1. Carnivore Restaurant
Arguably the most famous entertainment venue in the Safari Capital of the World, this venue has hosted countless series of events and functions, firmly placing it as a preferred venue for events. The fact that the restaurant is located at the edge of the Nairobi National Park and has its own extensive grounds perfect for any form of outdoor event makes it attractive for organizers.
The Simba Saloon and Lounge is also a popular restaurant for both locals and foreigners who put Carnivore on their to-do-list when in Nairobi. Leading DJs regularly grace the large dance floor and international celebrities occasionally choose to spend their nights at the venue. 
The restaurant is also close to Splash Waterworld and served by a single lane road, as well as a slip road in the opposite direction, both towards Langata Road and bypass.

About this writer:

Kevin Oyugi