Moving Blog: Tips, Checklists and Costs for Moving in Kenya

Start with the checklist that matches your move. Then read the packing guide a week or two before the day. If budget is your main concern, read the cost guides first, because they help you decide which services to book and which tasks to do yourself. Finally, keep the moving day guide open on your phone on the morning of the move. In short, each guide is designed to be used, not just read.

Many moving guides online are written for other countries. They talk about removal vans, council permits and moving abroad. In contrast, our moving blog is written for Kenya. We talk about month-end rent, caretakers, estate gates, murram roads, rainy seasons, M-Pesa payments and the Nairobi traffic. These details make a real difference to how a move goes, and that is why we include them.

House moves are the most common topic we write about. Our guides cover choosing a moving company, preparing children and pets, packing kitchens, moving appliances and settling into a new home. We also explain what to check before you hand back the keys, so you have the best chance of getting your deposit back. For hands-on help, our house movers page explains the full service.

Office moves need a different kind of plan. Our office guides explain how to set a timeline, appoint a move coordinator, label desks and equipment, plan IT shutdowns and tell clients about the new address. They also explain how to move over a weekend, so the business keeps running. If you are planning a relocation now, see our office movers page too.

Moving between towns adds new questions. How long will the trip take? What if it rains on the road? Should the car travel on a truck? Our long-distance guides answer those questions for routes such as Nairobi to Mombasa, Nakuru, Kisumu and Eldoret. They also explain shared loads, which can make a long move much cheaper.

Packing well is the single best way to prevent damage. Our packing guides show how to wrap plates, glasses, frames and electronics, which box sizes to use and how to label boxes so unpacking is quick. For moves with a gap between homes, our storage guides explain how to prepare items for weeks or months in storage.

Everyone wants to save money, but cutting the wrong corners can cost more in the end. Our cost guides explain which savings are safe, such as moving mid-month or packing your own books, and which are risky, such as using an open truck in the rainy season. They also explain how to read a quote and spot hidden charges.

Moving day involves heavy lifting, stairs, busy roads and lots of people. Our safety tips cover lifting, keeping children and pets safe, protecting floors and walls, and loading trucks correctly. For general workplace safety, the Ministry of Labour publishes guidance that our crew training follows.

We add new guides to our moving blog regularly. Topics come from the questions clients ask us during surveys, on the phone and on moving day itself. If you have a question you would like us to answer, send it through the quote form or by WhatsApp. If many people ask the same thing, it will likely become our next guide.

Our guides are written by the KejaPal moving team: coordinators who plan moves, crew leaders who run moving days, and packers who wrap thousands of plates a year. Each guide is reviewed for accuracy and updated when prices or practices change.

Our guides do not list fixed prices, because your real price depends on your items, access, distance and date. For your price, request a moving quote, and we will reply with a written quote within one working day.

Several of our guides include checklists you can print or save on your phone. For example, the house moving checklist splits tasks by week, so nothing is left to the last day. Similarly, the office relocation checklist lists every task by department. Print them, stick them on the fridge or share them with your family or team. Ticking items off makes a big move feel far more manageable.

Children feel a move deeply, even when they are excited. So our guides suggest simple ways to help. For instance, involve them in packing their own room, let them label their boxes and keep a bag of favourite toys with you on the day. Visit the new area together before the move if you can. After the move, set up their room first, so they have a familiar space on the first night.

Apartment moves bring their own challenges. Lifts may need booking, stairs may be narrow and parking may be limited to one bay. In addition, many buildings only allow moves at certain hours. Our apartment guides explain how to check these rules early, how to measure doors and stairwells, and which furniture to take apart before the day. They also explain how to protect lifts and common areas, so you start on good terms with the caretaker and your neighbours.

The move does not end when the truck leaves. First, check that water, power and gas work, and note the meter readings. Next, change the locks or at least confirm who else has keys. Then unpack the kitchen and bedrooms first, because food and sleep matter most on the first night. After that, update your address with your bank, employer, school and delivery apps. Finally, take a walk around the area to find the nearest shop, pharmacy and petrol station. Our settling-in guides cover each of these steps in more detail.

Over many moves, clients have shared their own tips with our crew. One packs a "first night" box with sheets, towels, a kettle and phone chargers. Another photographs the back of the TV before unplugging it, so reconnecting is easy. Others cook a big meal the day before and freeze it, so there is food on the first evening. We collect the best of these tips and share them on our moving blog, because the best advice often comes from people who have just moved.

Whether your move is next week or next year, the earlier you start planning, the smoother it will be. Browse the guides above, pick the one that fits your move, and start with the first step. If you would rather hand the whole job to a team, our movers, packers and fitters are ready to help across Nairobi and the rest of Kenya.

We do not publish fixed prices, because every move is different. Instead, we assess each move, send a written quote and agree the final price with you, so the figure you agree reflects your real move. If you are working to a budget, tell us early. Then we can suggest options, such as packing some boxes yourself, moving mid-month or sharing a truck on long routes.