Watu. Okay. Then let no one say that they make money or not as that cannot be backed up. The rest will all be fununu. Just hot air.

I tend to think Nakumatt is just hipe. If two closed branches can liteley kill them, then i dont see the strength in them, even with their shinny floors.

@yekeyeke - Before you get on your high horse about how Uchumi prospered... remember GoK stepped in with a sweet loan when shareholders refused to back it up...

What are the chances my business will get a below-market rate loan from GoK if I run into problems?

I used to shop 100% at Uchumi but now I have (almost) converted to Nakumatt... Why? They are EVERYWHERE in Nairobi...

Heck, even in Kisumu they have 2 busy branches. I think 2-3 in Mombasa...

Let's tackle each item here:
1) Yes, they tend to be more expensive but for me far more convenient coz I like to park my car in a safe spot when I go shopping. That's why there is market segmentation. I do shop elsewhere too just that over time I notice most receipts I have are from Nakumatt.

2) Nakumatt (from what I understand) leases space rather than build/buy real estate. This was reported on widely when the Thika Rd branch was demolished + when orengo was shooting his mouth off about westgate. The fool shut up when Westgate owners told him to put up or shut up. What I would like to know is WHO owned the Thika Rd property... (BTW, you do know Uchumi was entangled in some funny real estate deals...)

3) I struggle with the same issue when it dawned on me that KENYANS like 'imported' products! I prefer local (Buy Kenyan, Build Kenya) lakini it is a free country. Nakumatt has tapped into the 'aspirational' Kenyan who wants IMPORTED stuff. Silly? Yes. Mta do?

4) Erm, this one does NOT make sense. Compare EABL to Keroche or Sierra not to a supermarket. Completely different sectors. BTW, EABL does import lots of 'foreign' whiskeys, rums, etc...

As for Equity, please compare to other banks. BTW, Equity is a huge lender to businessfolk who are 'importers' from Dubai & China. This I know for a fact. Many of those mamas with huge bags on KQ/Emirates flights from Dubai are Equity customers.

Why does Equity charge 30% on their loans? They charge 3% to discount a chq. Annualized 50%. Usury, no? Shudn't you be on their case?

5) Ask Michael Waweru. The only people who accused Nakumatt of not paying taxes were MPs. How's that for irony? Many firms use tax credits (BTW, Uchumi is one of them) to reduce or eliminate tax payable. Legal.

6) Well, Nakumatt fulfills a need for me. I recall that unlike many others, they REFUSED to sell pangas in bulk in 2007-8. I know merali & kirubi are crooked so I avoid their products when I can. [Except for listed firms, I dont support moi, ndegwa or kenyatta firms either coz all started from grand theft]

Bottomline: I have no animosity towards Nakumatt coz they are no worse than most large Kenyan businesses. Unlike Uchumi or other parastatals, they don't use GoK (taxpayer) funds. I prefer KenolKobil [yes, I know the biwott connection but I am a member] to NOCK.

I sold off my Uchumi shares when I realized it was an extension of chris kirubi's business NOT run with me (as customer or shareholder) in mind.

How I wish more Africans were patriotic like you. You should let me buy you a cold one.

mr genius, have you been to the slums? Have you witnessed the level of suffering? Do you still not understand that poverty is the result of too little wealth being produced in the economy? Don't you understand that the level of economic activity & output in a nation is directly affected by the import policy? That the more economic activities, the more wealth is created and the less poverty, crime, disease etc within a society. Why don't you take your cheeriness to those dying of poverty and let them know that their deaths are worth it coz you and all the other mentally colonized sell outs must enjoy your kellogs cereal coz its unbelievably tasty!!!!??? I think I'll vomit.