Senior leadership from Express Kitchen, Chicken Cottage and Vivo Energy launching the new outlet at Shell Thome, Thika Road (adjacent to Mountain Mall)/HANDOUT 


Chicken Cottage has opened a new outlet at Shell Thome on Thika Road, expanding its presence along one of Nairobi’s busiest transport corridors.

The move signals the firm's continued growth by its operator, Express Kitchen.

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The outlet, located just after Mountain Mall, is designed to serve commuters and residents who move through the area daily.

It brings Chicken Cottage closer to customers along a road that has seen rapid growth in housing, offices, schools and retail centres in recent years.

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Express Kitchen, which runs Chicken Cottage and Papa John’s Kenya, said the new location reflects rising demand for quick, accessible meals in places people already frequent.

"Thika Road is one of the fastest-growing areas in the city, with people constantly moving in and out,” said Express Kitchen Managing Director Ayan Ali.

“We wanted to be where customers already are – not somewhere they have to plan a special trip to reach.”

The Shell Thome outlet is part of a wider strategy to partner with service stations and turn them into one-stop convenience points. Customers can fuel their vehicles, run errands and buy food in a single stop, a model the company says matches modern, on-the-go lifestyles.

“Convenience is no longer a bonus, it’s what people expect,” Ayan said. “Service stations make sense because they already sit along people’s daily routes.”

The new store is Chicken Cottage’s ninth outlet in Kenya. Express Kitchen plans to open eight more stores in 2026, focusing on sites that shorten travel time for customers and improve access across the city.

“This is still the early stage of our journey,” Ayan added. “We are growing steadily, one neighbourhood at a time.”

The company is also looking beyond Nairobi. Regional towns such as Nakuru and Eldoret are under consideration, with longer-term plans to expand into Uganda and Tanzania.

At the Thika Road outlet, the brand says customers can expect the same standards found across its network. Head of Operations Pauline Nganga said consistency remains a priority.

“Customers may notice the new space and the atmosphere, but what matters most is that the food tastes the same every time,” she said.

“Our teams go through regular training, and all staff are aligned to the same preparation and service standards.”

She added that the brand relies on fresh chicken, frequent deliveries and in-store preparation, supported by routine quality checks with local suppliers. Chicken Cottage is fully Halal certified.

The opening also adds to job creation. Express Kitchen currently employs more than 200 staff and expects to create between 75 and 100 additional jobs in 2026 as new outlets open

.“We want people to see a future here,” Ayan said.

“As the business grows, we want our teams to grow with it.”