Divisi
Karatina Market
Wholesale · Karatina, Kenya · also called Karatina open-air market
Central Kenya's open-air trading hub, sitting in the middle of the highland growing belt rather than at the end of it — cereals, fruit, vegetables and livestock all trade here, and much of what Nairobi eats passes through on the way south.
In season here in September: Irish potato · Cabbage · Maize · Common bean · Carrot
What trades at Karatina Market
| Crop | Sold by | Supply peaks |
|---|---|---|
 Irish potato |
50 kg bag | March to April, September to October |
 Cabbage |
head | March to April, September to October |
 Tomato |
crate | January to February, July to August |
 Maize |
90 kg bag | August to October |
 Common bean |
90 kg bag | August to September |
 Banana & plantain |
bunch | — |
 Carrot |
net bag | March to April, September to October |
Selling by the bucket or the bag? The farming glossary turns those measures into kilograms — what a 20 litre bucket of each crop really weighs, level and heaped. Open the glossary →
Selling here
- Trading days
- Every day
- Currency
- KES
Trade is in Kenyan shillings, cash or M-Pesa. Agree which before you unload — a buyer who wants to pay by phone and a seller who wants notes is the argument that holds up a sale.
Growers sell in bulk to traders who break the load down and resell. The best price for a full load, and the longest trip.
In Karatina town, on the Nyeri–Nairobi road.
Places that could sell into Karatina Market
-
Mathira · 14 km
-
Ndia · 15 km
-
Mukurweni · 15 km
-
Kirinyaga Central · 18 km
-
Mathioya · 22 km
-
Mwea · 24 km
-
Othaya · 27 km
-
Nyeri Town · 28 km
Karatina Market prices, and what to grow for it
Prices here move hour to hour, so they belong in the app rather than on a web page — a printed number would be wrong before you read it, and a live one from the traders standing in this market will not be.
Market prices are coming to the Divisi app — reported by the farmers and traders who are actually on the floor. Divisi also plans the season on your own field: what to plant, when to plant it, and what to do each week. Free for farmers, works offline.
Frequently asked questions
What is sold at Karatina Market?
Karatina Market trades irish potato, cabbage, tomato, maize, common bean, banana & plantain, carrot. Central Kenya's open-air trading hub, sitting in the middle of the highland growing belt rather than at the end of it — cereals, fruit, vegetables and livestock all trade here, and much of what Nairobi eats passes through on the way south.
When is irish potato cheapest at Karatina Market?
Supply of irish potato into Karatina Market peaks March to April, September to October, and that is when prices are usually at their lowest. Selling just before the peak, rather than in the middle of it, is where the money is.
What currency is used at Karatina Market?
KES. Trade is in Kenyan shillings, cash or M-Pesa. Agree which before you unload — a buyer who wants to pay by phone and a seller who wants notes is the argument that holds up a sale.
What are today's prices at Karatina Market?
Divisi does not publish daily prices for Karatina Market — they move hour to hour, and a number printed on a web page would be wrong before you read it. Market prices are coming to the Divisi app, reported by the farmers and traders who are actually there. Install it and you will have them the day they land.