Sipping cognac or Prosecco while watching the fireworks in Nairobi’s skyline was never a thing. Hotels in the city used to curate New Year’s Eve dinners mostly around music and food, but not selling fireworks displays as part of the package.
The wealthy Kenyans who wanted this view would book holidays in Manhattan, New York or stay at hotels overlooking the Hudson/East Rivers in the US or Burj Khalifa in Dubai, for fireworks. Some would go to Coast.
Fireworks have now become a thing. Be in malls hoping to pull in foot traffic who are likely to shop as they wait for fireworks or hotels seeking wealthy diners.
Serena Hotels, Safari Park Hotel, and Kwetu by Hilton were among the hotels whose dinners with fireworks drew impressive numbers.
By Tuesday, the booking at Safari Park, which welcomed 500 guests, was at 75 per cent according to Samson Mwangangi, the assistant sales and marketing manager.
“[It is] showing good signs. We have Sanaipei [Tande] here. We’ll have the fireworks and everything,” he said, “there are people who are booking just to come for the fireworks and dinner, but now we have the accommodation; people who are on the all-inclusive [package] who want to go over for the dinner. The all-inclusive was very good in terms of numbers.”
This is the third year that Safari Park is offering a New Year carnival, and Mr Mwangangi said the reception shows a ready clientele.
“We started picking up slowly, but now we feel like this year is really the peak,” he said.
At Serena Hotels, crossover dinners and fireworks will be held at the establishments in Nairobi and Mombasa. Those in wildlife areas keep off fireworks lest they spook the animals.
James Manyeki, the marketing manager at Serena Hotels Kenya, told BDLife that at the Nairobi Serena, there would be “a live band music, and there will be fireworks.”
Mr Mwangangi said the capacity was 250, and that by noon on Wednesday, 235 had booked.
“The fireworks display at Serena has always been an excellent choice. It is very competitive. Last year, it was ranked as one of the top five firework displays,” he said when asked why the demand was high.
“Our 2025 New Year’s Eve fireworks dinner is fully booked. We wanted to go big, bringing together fireworks by the pool, DJ music, and a family-style buffet,” said Mourine Oloo, director of brand and marketing at Kwetu Nairobi, Curio Collection By Hilton, adding, “our rooftop bar and restaurant is also fully booked, underscoring what has been a remarkable end to the year.”
Some of the hotels charging up to Sh18,000 per couple, and by Tuesday the dinner slots had been snapped up.
Shopping malls
Malls also brought out their A game. Imaara Mall, for instance, which drew huge numbers on December 24’s fireworks, has been running a campaign encouraging patrons to cross over to 2026 at CJ’s Restaurant, one of its tenants. It has also promised a rhumba party and a night of afrobeat and amapiano music.
Two Rivers Mall, on the other hand, ran a campaign promoting its food souk – a market that features many vendors selling different types of food.
The New Year fireworks display will last 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, at Sarit Centre, the establishment made the New Year’s Eve all about entertainment. At its expo centre, versatile Asian musician Rohan Mukati was set to hold a show in Kenya for the first time. Sarit Centre was selling tickets to the event.
Fireworks in estates
Besides gatherings to welcome the New Year, Kenyans also go big on firework displays at their homes and corporate spaces, a trend that brings brisk business to those who deal in the aesthetically explosive products.
Brian Musee, the owner of Miles High Fireworks in Nairobi, has been in the business since 2019.
“It has not been so different from other years because people have been celebrating year in, year out. So, the demand has just been like it has been … since we started in 2019, only that now we have improved our delivery because, over the years, we’ve been learning,” he said.
Fireworks illuminate the Nairobi skyline from UAP Towers as Kenyans usher in the New Year 2025.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
According to Mr Musee, the fireworks that fly off the shelves fastest are medium-range products like rockets and prompt tanks, popularly known as baruti.
“Most of our customers are families who want options that are safe and won’t make too much noise. But hotels, corporations and businesses also take part in celebrations, so they go for bigger packages. Basically, everyone in Kenya is celebrating,” he said, pointing to a trend where individual and corporate celebrations often overlap.
Safety, he emphasised, is non-negotiable.
“Our staff are adequately trained for firework handling and safety. We don’t sell to children who are not accompanied by adults, because only adults can follow instructions properly. Every customer is given detailed guidance on how to handle fireworks safely, and we also provide emergency procedures in case anything goes wrong,” explained Mr Musee.
Even the smallest items like firecrackers that cost a few hundred shillings, come with safety instructions to ensure every celebration is accident-free.
Mr Musee was also excited about the emerging trend of coordinated firework shows, a novelty that is quickly gaining traction in Kenya.
“The biggest trend reaching our country now is firework shows. Many businesses want the best shows, and we provide professional technicians to organise them. This year, we’re running over 15 shows across the country, all professionally coordinated. There’s a difference between a simple firework and a proper firework show, and that’s what we’re focusing on,” he said, hinting at a shift in the industry towards large-scale, visually spectacular displays.
He said that the business faces challenges, but his company has found ways to manage them.
“Demand has always been high, but previously we struggled with capacity, limited outlets and staff. This year, we’ve expanded with outlets in Nairobi, Meru, Mombasa, and Nakuru, so we’re able to handle the peak season better. The main challenge now is just making sure we keep up with the high expectations of our customers.”
Looking ahead, Mr Musee sees the fireworks market in Kenya continuing to grow.
“We definitely expect it to grow further. In the next five years, fireworks won’t just be about individual items; you’ll see entire coordinated shows becoming the standard. We want to be the biggest fireworks show company in the country, setting a new benchmark for celebrations,” he said.
Affordability, he added, is key to making fireworks accessible for all: “Our price ranges are very fair, from as low as Sh10 to as high as infinity. If you even have a budget of a million, no matter your budget, you can enjoy fireworks.”
For Mr Musee, the combination of safety, variety, and spectacle is what keeps Kenyans coming back for more.
