Having been to town the entire week, where chaos reigns on every street; roads are littered with buildings and people are everywhere; Eldoret’s Rupa’s mall seems almost too perfect a place to unwind. The place screams fun, food, and shopping just the way I like my Saturdays. And so, I figured why not take you with me for a full day and explore what the place has to offer?
I made a point to be up early and on-site at 10 am, considering Rupa normally comes to life from 9 to 10 am,. The place, in addition to its three levels; it has more than 50 stores. It is popular for having a fun and fitness center; a kid’s corner as well as an events garden right at the convenience of the mall. It’s like a fully-fledged amusement park, With a Christmas showdown, even! You better come selfie-stick strapped am telling you!
As I walk in, I see the display marketers already settling. For some reason, their goods are always calling my name. Admittedly they are very nice and as always, I end up getting a pair of earrings.
Mid-morning at Eldoret’s Rupa’s mall
My first planned destination, however, is the clothing stores. Mainly for window shopping really, to see what’s new, what I should be getting but probably have to go contemplate before I do. Rupa has about 10 of those. I browse through Vivo, Alladin, and Mr. Price, and well, I did manage not to plop down any coin and I’m on my way.
In the course of that, I do pass shoe stores such as Bata. I’m not very much of a shoe person btw. (I know, who doesn’t even love shoes). But from the display, they look nothing short of trendy.
I’m now on the second level, and I decide to pop into Chandarana and get a lip gloss as I couldn’t find my 49th one in the morning (what’s new). I quickly do that, of course being careful not to run into ecstatic kids sneaking things into their parent’s trolleys.
The Eldoret’s based Rupa’s mall is getting busier with each passing minute, after-all it’s the holidays, and we all know what that looks like! Foot traffic in stores is starting to define people’s interests. Unparented teens in the mall are striding up the elevator into electronics shops and some further up into virtual reality zone or perhaps the cinema.
I stray into House of Hair beauty shop where I had spotted some nice hair a while back as I convince myself of how much I deserve it. After a few minutes-more like 45 minutes am out.
So far, I have passed KFC, java, big square, and now bakers’ point, and at this point, I was giving in to the temptation. I decide to locate pizza inn as I had never tried their food before. Not bad I must say, but if there is something that will make me go back, is their strawberry crusher.
Well, that took me long enough. Pizza inn is adjacent to KFC and directly facing Dr. mattress by the way.
Afternoon
I am now on the elevator and I go straight to the third level. This may be popular to the majority of people, I mean it’s where literally the alcohol, snacks, and massage, as they say, are at. Plus additional leisure activity a.k.a virtual reality cinema 9D and the Eldoret’s only movie cinema at the Rupa’s mall. Together with this are a majority of kids’ clothing stores acting as a reminder of how the people of Eldoret take fashion and clothing seriously.
At this point am mainly guided by my overdue pedicure as well as fuelled by my full stomach with the desire to be seated. I head on to Mwangi’s beauty parlor. As always, the experience is comforting for a hot sunny afternoon. About an hour on and I feel relaxed and rejuvenated to carry on, plus I have finally ticked it out of my to-do list.
Am now out and strolling aimlessly, and the topmost level which is Eka hotel appears busy. People are scattered everywhere from what appears to be snack time. I however am not very invested in it and I wonder around the third level some more. My initial plan was to go to the cinema but I wander further away from it.
I pass KCB platinum bank, Mayfair insurance, Mayfair-CIB Bank…I can’t even pretend to take an interest in these stores, to be honest, at least not now. So, I should grab a cocktail. Quality time for myself I call it. After a minute (more like 10 minutes) of being torn between Zaika The lounge and The Well Irish Bar and restaurant I finally walk into Irish.
Well, I can’t speak for the cocktails but they are just right!
Evening, Eldoret’s Rupa’s mall style
My solo cocktails treat however turns into a trail of thought on how online content at the time was just screaming the just concluded world cup. Truth be told, I don’t care much about football; Eldoret’s Rupa’s mall however does. So much so, that its Rupaz fun and fitness center is fitted with a big LED screen complemented by a poolside seating area to enhance your football experience. With heated pools as well as an all-inclusive gym offering fitness, boxing, taekwondo, and dancing classes. It is fun and fitness indeed.
I lost track of time at The Well Irish for sure. Seated by the balcony, I had a view of the extensive front car park together with the auto-express car wash located inside the mall premises. Since I took interest in cars; Studying details on them has become a hobby that I am picking up. The auto-express wash tunnel is swarming with activity. A tyre-less Suzuki escudo is suspended with evidence of serious activity around it. Meanwhile, a white saloon car drives in for a wash as the owner walks into the mall. How much of a convenience that is! I can’t help but think.
A need for a bathroom break, however, was my prompt to take off. I, therefore, headed on to do some household shopping at Chandarana food plus as well as pick up a few groceries at Mboga na Kadhalika. I had planned on having dinner at the mall or perhaps going to the cinema but I felt tired and my mind fried.
The mall experience showed me that people like to shop, kids love to play and have fun and people appreciate some good food in a comfortable welcoming environment. Let’s not talk about the convenience of the different amenities, it makes the mall experience wholesome. Do not be limited though, there are more things you could do as well as new stores/activities every so often!
Have fun at Eldoret’s Rupa’s mall!
