Kisumu to host ‘Jumuiya’ Market in push for stronger EAC trade

Chris Mahandara-KNA

There are plans to establish a 'Jumuiya' market in Kisumu County to boost trade within the East African Community (EAC) .

Principal Secretary (PS) for East African Community Affairs Dr. Carolyn Karugu said the initiative targets the region’s 130 million consumers, positioning Kisumu as a gateway to the region’s growing trade opportunities.

Dr. Karugu stated that the EAC currently accounts for 29 per cent of Kenya’s total trade, making it the country’s largest trading bloc.

"Our mandate is to broaden this trade space, so we do not have to worry only about markets in China and Europe, while we have a readily accessible market here in East Africa," she added.

The project's first phase, which is already underway, she said, entails a feasibility and market assessment study to identify viable products, trade volumes, and preferred markets across the region.

“We are initiating a feasibility study and market assessment today. Within about a month, we should be ready with the findings," she said. 

The PS described Kisumu as a strategic choice for the pilot phase of the initiative, citing its connectivity by road, lake and air, and its historical role in regional commerce.

"Kisumu is accessible by road, air and water. It is linked to Uganda and Tanzania through Lake Victoria and is poised to become the Dubai of East Africa," Dr. Karugu added.

Jumuiya Market, as has been christened, she stated, will be integrated with Kisumu’s Aggregation and Industrial Parks to create a seamless supply chain for locally processed products reaching regional markets.

Dr. Karugu mentioned that the initiative aims to build trader capacity through training on cross-border trade protocols, including the EAC Treaty, rules of origin, and market requirements. 

The identified traders will be trained and facilitated to travel to key cities across the region including Dar es Salaam, Kigali and Kinshasa for exposure and networking with their counterparts.

“This will open them to new trading opportunities and enable them to venture into value addition and development of market-specific products,” she said.

The PS clarified that the project does not necessarily involve building new markets, adding that the feasibility study will assess whether existing markets such as Kibuye, Uhuru or Jubilee can host the Jumuiya Market operations.

Dr. Karugu noted that the State Department is engaging banks, telecom companies, and other financial institutions to unlock credit for participating traders.