New markets in city to provide trading space for 3,000 vendors

JOSEPH NG’ANG’A- KNA

Hundreds of residents within the Kasarani and Starehe constituencies are set to benefit from two markets scheduled for construction over the next year.

The two market projects, valued at Sh750 million, will be built in the Maji Mazuri and South B areas. They will accommodate 2,000 traders on regular days, with an additional 1,000 traders during designated market days.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony held at the South B Market site, Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development Cabinet Secretary (CS) Alice Wahome announced that the two contractors have officially taken over the sites, each covering one acre.

The projects are expected to be completed within the next year. “Providing secure trading spaces for over 2,000 traders is a key aspect of the Kenya Kwanza Manifesto and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). 

"My ministry has partnered with the State Department for TVETs, Jua Kali organizations, and other stakeholders to build market stalls developed by local Jua Kali clusters.

The sub-contracted Jua Kali cluster will be paid from the contract sum,” she said. CS Wahome said that the two contracts would absorb 800 workers during the construction phase, with local Jua Kali artisans provided with technical assistance and financial support to provide the required products for the project.

This is aimed at enhancing their financial position enabling them to win big ticket contracts in future. Maji Mazuri market will provide approximately 1,000 daily traders with decent and secure stalls with the numbers projected to increase up to 1,500 traders on designated market days.

The projected number of traders at the South B market is 900 daily traders and ap proximately 1,500 traders during open-market days.