The Hub Karen's Shop & Win returns with KSh1 million in vouchers as Christmas celebrations begin

The Hub Karen is using its 2026 Christmas campaign to bring shopping incentives, children’s holiday programmes and seasonal entertainment into one retail offering, with KSh1 million in gift vouchers and two travel prizes forming part of its returning Shop & Win promotion.

The programme, themed In the Spirit of Wonder, was launched on 14 November with a Christmas tree lighting ceremony, live carols, a ballet performance and appearances by Santa and his elves. Weekly entertainment, live music and Santa’s Grotto will continue through the festive season, giving the shopping centre a programme that extends beyond the traditional Christmas shopping period.

The promotional campaign also draws on an approach The Hub Karen has used previously to encourage customer participation. In February 2026, TechTrendsKE reported on an earlier Shop & Win competition in which Vennah Kwamboka won KSh1 million. That campaign also included a sponsored trip for two to Cape Town and a two-night full-board stay at a mountain resort.

The earlier promotion involved purchase-linked competition entries and partnerships with Kenya Airways, Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club and Standard Media Group. The November announcement retains the combination of shopping rewards and travel incentives, although the current release does not provide the qualification criteria or details of the two travel prizes.

For retailers operating within shopping centres, such promotions offer another way to connect consumer spending with experiences beyond individual purchases. The Hub Karen’s latest campaign places those incentives alongside entertainment and children’s activities, giving families additional reasons to visit the centre during the holiday period.

Holiday programmes extend the mall’s family offering

The children’s programme is among the more substantial components of this year’s festive schedule. The Hub Park’s Adventure Camp, located on the upper ground floor, runs on weekdays from 2 November to 11 December, with separate activities for children aged four to six and those aged seven to 16.

The younger group, participating in the Little Explorers programme, has access to brick-building sessions with Sovereign Bricks, play activities at The Hub Park and creative workshops. Sessions run from 10.30am to 1.30pm. Older participants have sports activities organised with Decathlon, alongside robotics and coding sessions delivered with Smart Brains Africa. Their programme runs from 10.30am to 3pm, while Hub Eats provides food for both groups.

The involvement of Decathlon and Smart Brains Africa also connects the Christmas programme to activities the mall has been developing outside the festive season.

In October, The Hub Karen featured its Hub Fit wellness offering in coverage of a family-oriented fitness event involving Nyumbani Active. The mall had launched Hub Fit in April with Decathlon, Smart Gyms, Healthy U and Nairobi Sports House. Activities included running, spin workouts and mobility sessions, with arrangements allowing children to participate in separate activities while their parents exercised.

The holiday camp extends this activity-based approach to school-age children, incorporating recreation, sports and introductory technology learning into the shopping centre’s offering. It also gives parents access to organised weekday activities during the school holiday period.

The centre’s retail development provides another part of this strategy. In October, HiHome Appliances opened its sixth Kenyan branch at The Hub Karen, adding a specialist household appliance and electronics outlet carrying more than 30 brands, including LG, Midea and Hisense. OPPO had also opened an Experience Shop at the mall in July, combining smartphone sales with product demonstrations, accessories, financing and after-sales services.

These additions show the range of businesses operating within the centre, from specialist retail to services and leisure. The Christmas programme adds a seasonal layer to an offering that already includes shopping, dining, wellness and organised activities.

Community support becomes part of the festive programme

The 2026 campaign also includes a community support initiative involving children from a nearby children’s home. The Hub Karen welcomed the children to the Christmas launch, where they participated in the day’s celebrations. According to Keijah Bekah, the centre intends to involve them in activities throughout the festive season.

Bekah, the mall’s Head of Customer Experience, said the initiative would extend beyond invitations to seasonal events. The centre’s teams and tenants are expected to contribute towards a support programme intended to address needs such as books, school fees and other forms of assistance.

She said the objective was to establish lasting relationships with surrounding communities and develop a sustainable programme based on their needs.

The proposal places community engagement alongside the campaign’s commercial and entertainment activities. It also introduces a longer-term commitment that will depend on how the centre and its tenants organise and sustain their contributions beyond the Christmas period.

For shoppers, the programme will offer several ways to engage with the centre during the holidays, from the Shop & Win promotion and children’s camp to live performances, Santa’s Grotto and dining at its restaurants. The Hub Karen’s open-air layout, shops, restaurants and green spaces provide the physical setting for these activities, with the Christmas programme extending the centre’s use beyond shopping trips.

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