Nairo-Bae® is a board game that reflects the vibrant life and dynamics of living in Nairobi, Kenya. Players will move around the board, making strategic decisions to accumulate wealth, navigate city challenges, and outwit their opponents. The goal is to become the wealthiest player by acquiring properties, avoiding pitfalls, and utilizing the unique features of the Nairobi city experience.
GAME OBJECTIVE
The objective of Nairo-Bae® is to build wealth by purchasing properties, investing in businesses (SACCOs), collecting rent from other players, and managing taxes and fines. The winner is the player with the most wealth after all other players are bankrupt or after a set number of turns, based on player preference.
"WHEN I SET OUT TO BUILD NAIRO-BAE®, IT WAS MERELY A PASSION PROJECT. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WOULD COME OF IT. A YEAR LATER AND NOT ONLY HAS IT BEEN PLAYED AND ENJOYED BY 200 PEOPLE AND COUNTING, IT HAS BIRTHED NEW GAMING COMMUNITIES. THE FEEDBACK HAS BEEN OVERWHELMINGLY HUMBLING AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT THIS YEAR WILL BRING. I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT."
— Farid Kipirash, Nairo-Bae® Creator
GAME COMPONENTS
- Game Board: Represents different neighborhoods and key locations in Nairobi.
- Property Cards: Each property is represented by a card, showing its value and potential rent income.
- Action Cards (Loot Chest and Luck): These cards offer rewards or penalties, depending on the draw.
- Tokens: Used to represent each player’s position on the board.
- Dice: Players roll two dice to move around the board.
- Money: Currency (K) is used to make transactions in the game.
GAME SETUP
- Distribute Starting Money: Each player starts with a fixed amount of K12,000.
- Choose Tokens: Each player selects a token to represent them on the board.
- Place Tokens on ‘SALO’ Space: All players begin at the “SALO” space.
- Shuffle the Loot Chest and Luck decks and place them face down on the designated spaces on the board.
TURN MECHANICS
Rolling the Dice: On each turn, a player rolls both dice and moves their token the corresponding number of spaces.
- If a player rolls doubles, they get another turn but beware: rolling doubles three times sends you to “Jail.”
- Players can land on properties, Luck/Loot Chest spaces, or pay fines/taxes as indicated by the board.
Buying Properties: If a player lands on an unowned property, they can purchase it from the bank by paying the listed price. If they decline, the property goes to auction for all players to bid.
Paying Rent: If a player lands on a property owned by another player, they must pay rent based on the property’s value. Properties owned in color sets increase in rent value.
Special Spaces:
- Loot Chest: Draw a card from the Loot Chest deck and follow the instructions.
- Luck: Draw a card from the Luck deck and follow the instructions.
- Jail: Players can end up in jail, missing turns unless they roll a double, use a “Get Out of Jail” card, or pay a fine.
- Breathing Tax/Existing Tax: Players must pay taxes when they land on these spaces.
KEY GAME STRATEGIES
1. Property Acquisition
- Prioritize Set Completion: Aim to acquire properties of the same color to complete a set. Owning all properties in a set allows you to charge higher rent.
- Location Focus: Properties like Westlands, Karen, and Lavington have high value and yield significant rent, making them strong long-term investments.
- Mix Property Types: Diversify your portfolio with a mix of affordable (e.g. Eastlands) and premium (e.g. Westlands) properties to maintain steady cash flow.
2. SACCO Investment
- Investing in SACCOs (as shown on spaces like Umoi’Nah SACCO and Mathare SACCO) can generate additional passive income when opponents land on them.
- SACCO Rent: SACCOs have moderate acquisition costs but can generate consistent revenue over time. Consider investing early.
3. Managing Cash Flow
- Avoid Cash Shortage: Always keep enough Ks to pay for rent or unexpected fines. Going bankrupt can result in losing valuable properties.
- Tax and Fines: Watch out for spaces like Breathing Tax and Existing Tax, which will take a portion of your cash reserves. Plan to have emergency funds to avoid bankruptcy.
4. Luck and Loot Chest Management
- High Risk, High Reward: Luck and Loot Chest cards offer random rewards or penalties. Use these opportunities to turn the game in your favor, but always prepare for unexpected setbacks.
- Anticipate Penalties: Some cards will require you to pay taxes or fines. Keep a balance between aggressive investment and maintaining liquidity for emergencies.
5. Jail Strategy
- Use Jail Wisely: In the later stages of the game, being in jail can be an advantage. It allows you to avoid landing on expensive properties while still collecting rent from your own. Be cautious of being a Repeat Offender though, this will block you from collecting rent for the next 3 turns.
- Early Game: Avoid jail, as it can prevent you from acquiring valuable properties in the early stages.
FINAL THOUGHT
Nairo-Bae® is a game of strategic balance—between risk and reward, between aggressive buying and cautious investing, between collaboration and competition. Success in this game requires a blend of smart investments, strategic trading, and risk management. Mastering the right strategies will give you a significant advantage over your opponents and make your journey to becoming Nairobi’s wealthiest resident a triumphant one. Adapt your strategy based on the flow of the game, and may the wealthiest player win!
