Where is Toi Market?
Toi Market sits on Suna Road, a side street off Ngong Road, on the outskirts of Kibera.[1] It's in Kibra constituency, next to Toi Primary School and near Moi Girls' School.[2][3]
Getting there from the CBD
The closest stops are Winners Chapel/Kanisani, San Siro and Adams Arcade, all within a six-minute walk, according to transit app Moovit.[4]
Moovit puts the public transport trip from Jevanjee Gardens in the CBD at about 29 minutes.[4] By car or ride-hailing, head out along Ngong Road and turn into Suna Road.
Toi right now: fires and a stalled upgrade
Toi is one of Nairobi's busiest informal markets, and its stalls are mostly iron sheet and polythene.[5] That leaves it badly exposed to fire, and traders say fires have become almost yearly since 2023.[5]
A land dispute has also frozen plans to rebuild it. Here's how the last three years have gone.
A KSh500m pledge
President William Ruto pledged KSh500 million to turn Toi into a modern trading hub.[5]
Another fire
A fire broke out around 7am near Toi Primary School. Police said about 250 stalls burnt, affecting some 600 traders, with no casualties.[6]
Rains ahead
The county listed Toi among the markets in its clean-up before the El Niño rains it expects in October.[7]
What this means for your trip
- If you have a regular seller, call before you go. Stalls lost in the March fire may not be where you remember.
- The county expects heavy rains from October, so dress for rain and mud.
- Little has moved on the upgrade, so expect the same crowded market of iron-sheet stalls.
Toi market days and opening times
Toi is an informal market, so there's no official timetable or market day.[5] Hours vary from stall to stall.
That matters most on Sundays and public holidays. If you're after a particular seller, message them before you set off.
The best time to go
Go early for the widest choice.[8] Resellers shopping for their own stalls come early for “camera”, the trade name for top-grade pieces.[9]
What's sold at Toi Market
Clothes are Toi's main trade, both second-hand and new, and prices are there to be negotiated.[10] The stalls lost in the March 2026 fire held clothing, household items and perishable food.[6]
Toi or Gikomba?
Both are big open-air markets known for affordable clothes.[10] They sit on opposite sides of the city, and in 2026 they're heading in very different directions.
| Toi | Gikomba | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Suna Road, off Ngong Road, in Kibra[1] | Kamukunji, by the Nairobi River, east of the CBD |
| Size | More than 5,000 traders[2] | Nairobi's largest mitumba hub[10] |
| Stock | New and second-hand clothes, shoes, household goods and fresh food | Mitumba by the piece and the bale, plus shoes, fish, timber and jua kali goods |
| In 2026 | Upgrade stalled by a land dispute[5] | New market's Phase One due by 15 October[11] |
Heading east instead? Read our Gikomba Market guide for its market days, bale prices and rebuild.
How to shop Toi
Six habits that make a Toi trip cheaper and easier.
Carry small notes
Pay the exact price you agree. Keep your cash and phone out of sight in the crowds.
Dress for the weather
Wear closed shoes you don't mind getting muddy, especially once the October rains start.[7]
Check every piece
Look for stains, tears, broken zips and altered seams before you pay.
Bargain, politely
Prices are negotiable, so ask two or three sellers before you settle.[10]
Save your seller's number
After the March fire, a phone number is the surest way to find a good seller again.
Sources
- Toi Market, Wikipedia, accessed 30 September 2026.
- Motion: Construction of a well-built purpose built Toi Market, Nairobi City County Assembly, adopted 21 June 2023.
- Traders Count Losses as Huge Fire Ravages Toi Market, Kenyans.co.ke, 16 March 2026.
- Public transit directions to Toi Market, Moovit, accessed 30 September 2026.
- Inside the politics of Toi market, Daily Nation, 18 March 2026.
- Toi Market traders appeal for aid after devastating fire destroys stalls amid suspicions of foul play, The Eastleigh Voice, 16 March 2026.
- City Hall steps up flood preparations as Green Army clears waste loads, The Star, 31 August 2026.
- Toi Main Market, Nairobi, GetYourGuide, accessed 30 September 2026.
- 5 Innovative Ways Young People Are Using to Make Money From Mitumba Business, Money254, 25 February 2026.
- List of Kenya's Best Affordable Fashion Markets and Online Stores, The Kenya Times, 1 July 2026.
- Gikomba Modern Market Set to Improve Trading Conditions for Thousands of Traders, Business Today, 27 September 2026.
Last updated 30 September 2026. Toi changes after every fire, so check this date before you plan a trip.
