Hiring equipment for an event in Nairobi is easy. Hiring the right amount, delivered on time, powered properly and returned without a damage bill is where people get caught. This guide gives typical 2026 hire prices for tents, chairs, stages, screens and sound, and the checks that keep the quote you accepted close to the bill you pay.
- A 100-seater tent typically costs KES 30,000 to 80,000 a day in Nairobi, depending on type, walls and lining.
- Size everything from the guest count and the layout, not from a supplier’s package list.
- Power is the item most often forgotten. Agree who supplies the generator and the fuel.
- Get delivery, setup, collection, deposit and damage terms in writing before you pay.
How much does event equipment hire cost in Nairobi?
For a 100-guest event in Nairobi, basic equipment (tent, chairs, a small stage and a speech sound system) typically costs between KES 60,000 and KES 150,000 for the day before decor and power. Screens, lighting and larger tents push that up quickly.
| Item | Typical range we see in 2026 | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Tent, 50-seater (high-peak or B-line) | KES 12,000 to 25,000 | Per day, usually with setup |
| Tent, 100-seater dome or hexagonal | KES 30,000 to 50,000 | Per day |
| Marquee, 100-seater with walls and lining | KES 55,000 to 80,000 | Per day |
| A-frame tent section, about 20m by 6m | Around KES 25,000 | Per section |
| Canopy or gazebo | KES 5,000 to 15,000 | Each |
| Standard event chairs | Around KES 100 to 150 | Per chair, more for dressed or Chiavari-style |
| Stage boards (1.22m by 1.22m) | Around KES 1,300 | Per board; a 6m by 4m stage needs about 20 |
| LED screen panels (0.5m by 0.5m) | Around KES 1,300 | Per panel, so roughly KES 5,000+ per square metre before processor and operator |
| TV screen on stand, 55 to 85 inch | Around KES 6,000 | Each |
| Basic PA system for speech | From about KES 15,000 | Per event |
| Stage lighting | About KES 1,300 (par can) to 3,000 (moving head) | Per light |
| Truss frame, about 8m by 6m by 6m | Around KES 25,000 | Per setup |
| Delivery | KES 0 to 5,000 in Nairobi; 5,000 to 15,000 outside | Per trip |
These are typical market ranges, not Red Giant’s fixed prices. Quotes move with the date (December weekends are the busiest), the distance, the condition and age of the stock, and whether setup, transport and an operator are included. Ask for an itemised written quote and compare like with like.
How much equipment do you need?
Size from your headcount and layout. A seated guest at round tables needs about 1.5 square metres of tent, so 100 guests need roughly 150 square metres before you add a stage, dance floor or buffet line.
Tents
The “100-seater” label usually means 100 people seated in rows, not at round tables with a buffet. Add space for the stage, the bar, the DJ and the walkways, and ask the supplier for a layout drawing. Our guide to party tent hire in Nairobi covers tent types, ground and weather in detail.
Chairs and tables
- Order chairs for your confirmed number plus about 5 percent, for speakers, crew and late plus-ones.
- A 1.8m round table seats ten comfortably; a 1.5m round seats eight.
- Count the chairs off the truck. Shortfalls are easier to fix at 10am than at 6pm.
Stage
For speeches and an MC, 4m by 3m is enough. For a band or a dance act, plan 6m by 4m or more, with steps, skirting and a ramp if anyone on the programme needs step-free access. Raise the stage enough for the back row to see over seated heads.
Screens
Outdoors in daylight, a projector struggles; an LED wall is the realistic choice. Indoors, two TV screens on stands either side of the stage often do the job for under 150 guests. Size text for the back row, not the laptop.
Sound
A speech-only PA for 100 indoors is a small system. Music for a dance floor outdoors, or 300 guests across a lawn, needs a bigger rig and a sound engineer. Tell the supplier the headcount, whether it is indoors or out, and whether there is live music.
From experience: send every supplier the same one-page sheet with the date, venue, headcount, layout sketch, programme times and site contact. Quotes become comparable, and nobody turns up with the wrong kit.
Who supplies the power?
Agree in writing who supplies the power, who runs it and who pays for fuel. Venue sockets rarely cope with sound, lights, screens, catering and a cold room at the same time.
- Size the generator to the load. As a general guide, events under 100 people often run on 5 to 15 kVA, 100 to 500 people on 20 to 50 kVA, and larger events on bigger or multiple units.
- Plan the fuel. Diesel generators burn roughly 0.25 to 0.3 litres per kVA per hour under normal load. A long day needs a full tank and a spare.
- Separate circuits. Keep sound on a different circuit from catering equipment, so a kettle does not drop the speeches.
- Placement. Generators go downwind and away from guests, with cables covered or ramped where people walk.
What should you agree before you pay?
Before you pay a deposit, get the delivery time, setup time, collection time, deposit amount and damage terms written into the quote or a short agreement. Most disputes after events come from one of those five.
- Delivery and setup window. A 100-seater tent takes a crew a few hours. For an evening event, ask for setup the day before or early morning, and check when the venue lets vendors in.
- Collection. Late-night collection may cost extra. Next-morning collection may mean paying security to watch the kit overnight.
- Deposit. Many suppliers ask for a booking deposit and some ask for a refundable security deposit. Ask how and when each is refunded, and pay through traceable channels such as M-Pesa to a registered business number or bank transfer.
- Damage and loss. Ask for the replacement price of each item in writing. Count and photograph everything at delivery and at collection, with the supplier’s crew present.
- Weather and cancellation. Find out what happens if you cancel or reduce numbers, and what happens if rain damages equipment.
Event insurance is worth a conversation for larger events; our guide to event insurance in Kenya explains what to ask an insurer.
Should you hire items separately or as a package?
For small events, a single supplier that bundles tent, chairs and basic sound is usually simpler and cheaper. For larger events, splitting tents, AV and decor between specialists often gives better quality, but someone has to coordinate them.
The trade-off is coordination. Three suppliers means three delivery times, three crews and three invoices, and someone on site who knows where each item goes. That is the job an events company does; at Red Giant Media we bring structure, AV and decor under one plan and one site lead. If you do it yourself, appoint one person as the site contact for all suppliers, and share a single timeline.
For smaller items such as props, photo booths and karaoke kits, see our guides to party props hire and the week-by-week event planning checklist. For full event management, see our events page.
Need the whole set-up handled?
Tell us the date, venue and headcount. We will size the tent, seating, stage, screens, sound and power, and give you one itemised quote.
Quick answers
How much does it cost to hire a tent in Nairobi?
In 2026, a 50-seater tent typically costs KES 12,000 to 25,000 a day, a 100-seater dome KES 30,000 to 50,000, and a 100-seater marquee with walls and lining KES 55,000 to 80,000. Delivery outside Nairobi and decor are usually extra.
How much does it cost to hire chairs for an event in Nairobi?
Standard event chairs are typically around KES 100 to 150 each per event. Chiavari-style chairs and chair covers cost more, and some suppliers include basic chairs in a tent package.
How much is LED screen hire in Nairobi?
LED panels are commonly hired at around KES 1,300 per 0.5m panel, which is roughly KES 5,000 or more per square metre, before the processor, operator, truss and power. A small wall for a corporate event usually starts in the tens of thousands of shillings.
What size generator do I need for an event?
As a general guide, under 100 guests often needs 5 to 15 kVA and 100 to 500 guests 20 to 50 kVA, depending on sound, lighting, screens and catering. Ask your AV supplier for the total load and add a margin.
Do event equipment suppliers charge a deposit?
Most ask for a booking deposit and some ask for a refundable security deposit. Get the amount, refund timing and damage charges in writing, and photograph the equipment at delivery and collection.
