November 26, 2024

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Meet The Man Who Started Popular Kamakis With One Crate of Beer [PHOTOS]

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If you are asked to direct a visitor in Nairobi to a place he or she can have a drink and good nyama choma, Kamakis would definitely be one area you would suggest to them.

The getaway along Eastern Bypass is popular and has revelers and nyama choma lovers from Kiambu, Nairobi, Kajiado, Machakos and Murang’a Counties.

It is located in Kiambu County but has its biggest chunk of customers from Nairobi.

Murigi wa Kamaki established Kamakis Palace.

Today there are dozen high-end pubs, supermarkets, hardwares, residential flats, car sellers and other kinds of businesses there.

However, the once bushy unoccupied area was started by then a small investor who opened a small club with just one crate of Tusker and two crates of soda.

Murigi wa Kamaki was the first person to start a kiosk-like pub there in 2009 when the Eastern Bypass started taking shape.

He named it after their father’s name “Kamakis”, which became the name of the place and even after bigger and more popular pubs like Greenspot Gardens, Falcon Grill, 1.7 Lounge were established, they still ride on the popularity of name Kamakis.

Kamakis is popular with nyama choma and beer.

“I started a small kiosk. That is when the Eastern Bypass was being tarmacked. Nobody liked to stay or invest here” Kamaki says.

The 70-year-old had stayed there way before it was decided the then rough road would be made a busy bypass.

“I started with three crates. Two of soda and one for Tusker. I just decided to give it a try and with time it became popular as those working on the road and others coming to buy plots stopped by my pub” Kamaki says.

The family hails from Gaikundo village, Gakindu Location in Mukurweini, Nyeri County.

Busy Eastern Bypass.

Kamaki says he is now a contented man that he dared a move that has opened avenue to thousands of people.

 When the bypass was taking shape, his home was demolished to pave way.

Kamaki’s house that was demolished.

He says; “My house sat on the road but I didn’t know that. It was partially demolished but I decided to knock it down completely”.

When he was settling there plots were going for Sh200, 000, then rose to Sh300, 00, half a million and now they cost millions of shillings.

When Eastern Bypass taking shape.