Sarit Centre

Sarit is a shopping centre in the Westlands neighbourhood of Nairobi, Kenya. Opened in 1983, it is first ever shopping centre to be launched in independent Kenya.

Sarit Centre
LocationWestlands, Nairobi, Kenya
Coordinates1°15′35″S 36°48′5″E
Opening date1983 (1983)
Owner
  • Vidhu Shah
  • Maneklal Rughani
Total retail floor area74,000 m2 (800,000 sq ft)
No. of floors6
Parking4,000
Websitesarityourcity.com

Overview

Construction of Sarit Centre began in 1981, with its architectural design based on the Brent Cross Shopping Centre in London. With the rising political instability in the early 1980s, construction was halted and the business class that had applied for the 200 rental units withdrew as others left Kenya. The mall was opened in April 1983 with only two tenants: Uchumi Supermarket and Text Book Centre – Uchumi Supermarket chain later closed in 2018, while Text Book Centre remains operational to-date.[1][2] The shopping centre was fully let by the end of 1984.[3]

Over the years, Sarit Centre, has undergone three architectural and constructional revamps that has redefined the centre's initial purpose of commercial centre to a more mixed-use development, making it one of the largest shopping centres in Kenya. Development of the third and most recent phase which was primarily retail began in 2017.[4][5]

Sarit, like any other shopping centre, provides an array of services from a retail supermarkets; fast food restaurants; fashion and accessories shops; electronics and technology shops; banking and services; a movie theatre; gym; gaming establishments; and outdoor recreation centre.[6]

References
  1. Alushula, Patrick. "Uchumi exits Sarit Centre after 30 years stay". The Standard. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  2. "Uchumi to Close Its Sarit Centre Branch - Kenyan Wallstreet". 26 February 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  3. "Contact the Africa Outlook Magazine Team". Africa Outlook Magazine. 24 March 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  4. "The Sarit Centre". Africa Outlook Magazine. 26 August 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  5. Nyawira, Susan. "The three-phase journey of Sarit Centre". The Star. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  6. "Carrefour takes over Sarit Centre space left vacant by Uchumi". Nairobi News. 28 February 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
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