I just read another article entitled Maasai Spear and had to write this in part as a response to that and in part informative to other tourists.

At the market, every vendor is a local who claims to handcraft all the items they preside over. I made 20 "friends" that day and 1 "best friend". The vendors all are over-nice and will call you friend and make up stories to get you to "sponsor" them. Hey, can you blame them, they are probably barely "eeking" by on the money they make! The level of poverty in Nairobi is probably second only to Northern India. Anyways, their are several who sell Massai spears, and the spears all look the same with very minor differences. They all break down into 3 pieces and are all held together by pressure. They will usually start off at 8500 shillings, which is around 100 US dollars at the time this article was written. Long story short, I got my two spears for about $6 US dollars each. They are about 5' 5" high.

So the article about a guy buying one for $100 and believing that somebody actually killed lions with one of these decorative things is crazy!

I doubt very much that the Maasai tribe originally constructed their spears with a mind to carrying them on airplanes and meeting luggage space requirements. There is no way that a spear contsructed of 3 peices and held together by pressure is adequate to slay a lion!! Take a look at any native peples weaponry and you will find spears of 1 piece with a sharp head on it which is permanently attached.

The bargaining system in built in to commerce between locals and tourist in Nairobi. They expect you to pay less then their original offer, and one generally expects to pay more then the counter offer.

Location:
Market, Nairobi, Kenya

Market Types:
Craft market

Getting There
I forget what it is called because it is a local Swahili name. It's the only open-air market I think, and it is held on Sunday's in Nairobi.

Price Description: I wouldn't even bother looking anywhere else for souveniers. Unless you want a t-shirt from Java House or something.

Everything gets less expensive the closer it gets to closing time.

Relative price: Budget

Open Hours to:6pm

Days Closed:Mon-Sat

Travel Skills: None

Currencies accepted
US dollar, Kenyan shilling

Contact Information:
E-mail: mailpost(at)remove-this.inbox.com