Handcrafted leather sandals

Made by hand — Nairobi CBD, Kenya

Leather,
crafted to
last forever.

Sandals, shoes, and belts handmade from genuine Kenyan leather — built for the city, the coast, and everything between.

✦Genuine Kenyan leather
✦Free delivery in Nairobi
✦30-day returns
✦Handmade by artisans

Collections

Crafted for every occasion

New Service

Restoration

Beloved leather items deserve a second life. We clean, re-sole, re-stitch, and condition leather shoes and bags back to near-new.

Featured

Most loved pieces

Our Story

Named for his daughter.
Built from the streets.

Kevin Owino started with nothing but skill and determination. From selling handmade sandals on the streets of Nairobi CBD, he built Bahawi into a thriving leather brand — named after his beloved daughter Hawi. In his mother tongue, Ba means father. So Bahawi means Father of Hawi — a name worn with deep pride.

Today, 11 artisans work out of our workshop in Nairobi CBD, each pair bearing the signature of the hands that made it.

Kevin Owino at work

11

Master Artisans

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What our customers say

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Max: KSh 10000

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Product

Colour:

Size (EU)

Free delivery in Nairobi · 30-day returns

  • Hand-stitched construction
  • Full-grain or nubuck leather upper
  • Leather-lined insole
  • Rubber-blend outsole
  • Made in Nairobi CBD, Kenya
  • Apply leather conditioner every 2–3 months
  • Clean with a slightly damp cloth
  • Air dry naturally — avoid direct heat
  • Store in the dust bag provided
  • Polish with matching shoe cream to restore sheen

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Workshop

Our Story

Leather crafted by
Kenyan hands.

The Founder

From the streets of Nairobi to a thriving craft

Kevin Owino started with nothing but raw talent and relentless drive. As a young man he taught himself to shape leather on the streets of Nairobi CBD, cutting soles by hand and selling sandals at the city's markets. People came back because the quality was undeniable.

Through sheer hard work and dedication — working late into the night, reinvesting every shilling — Kevin built the business up from those streets. When his daughter was born, he named the brand Bahawi: in his mother tongue, Ba means father, and her name is Hawi. Bahawi — Father of Hawi. She is his greatest inspiration and the reason behind every pair.

Today Bahawi employs 11 skilled artisans and ships across East Africa from our workshop in Nairobi CBD. Kevin still cuts leather by hand. The streets taught him quality; Hawi keeps him dreaming bigger.

Kevin Owino
Bahawi sandals

"

I named this business Bahawi — Ba means father, and Hawi is my daughter. She is my reason. Every pair I make, I make for her future.

— Kevin Owino, Founder

2018

Founded

11

Artisans

4,200+

Pairs sold

80km

Local leather

How we work

The craft, step by step

01

Leather selection

We visit partner tanneries in person to hand-pick full-grain hides. Touch and flex — no compromise.

02

Cutting by hand

Each piece is traced from paper patterns and cut individually with a round knife — never a die press.

03

Saddle stitching

Double-locked waxed-linen stitching set by hand at six holes per inch. It cannot unravel.

04

Lasting & finishing

Uppers are lasted over wooden forms, soled, and edge-finished by burnishing — not paint.

We also restore shoes & bags

Bring any beloved leather item back to life — re-sole, re-stitch, deep clean and condition.

Workshop

Service

Leather Restoration

Beloved shoes and bags deserve a second life. Our artisans apply the same craftsmanship to restoration as to making new — every piece treated with care, skill, and pride.

How it works

Simple, 3-step process

1

WhatsApp us

Send photos of your shoes or bag and describe the damage. We'll quote within 24 hours.

2

Drop off or courier

Bring your items to our Nairobi CBD workshop or send them by courier — we cover return delivery within Nairobi CBD and environs.

3

Collect & enjoy

Turnaround is typically 3–7 days. We notify you when they're ready and deliver within Nairobi for free.

Services & Pricing

What we offer

Ready to give your leather a second life?

WhatsApp us with photos. We quote fast and turn around quickly.

Get in touch

We'd love to hear from you

Questions about sizing, custom orders, wholesale enquiries, or leather restoration — the fastest way to reach us is WhatsApp. We respond within a few hours.

Chat on WhatsApp

+254 713 133 050 · Usually replies within 2 hours
📍

Workshop & Store

Nairobi CBD, Nairobi, Kenya

✉️

Email

hello@bahawisandals.co.ke

🕐

Opening hours

Mon–Sat, 8 am – 6 pm EAT

📱

Instagram

@bahawisandals