The construction of a modern market at Kangari trading centre in Murang’a is progressing well and the project is currently 45 per cent complete.
The project funded by the national government at a tune of Sh. 342 million is one of the President Uhuru Kenyatta’s flagship projects in the central region. It is expected to boost food security and create employment opportunities.
During the County Development Implementation and Coordination Committee (CDICC) site visit Tuesday, the contractor undertaking the project promised to handover the market latest by the end of September.
Members of the CDICC led by their Chairman Mr. Karuku Ngumo expressed satisfaction on the construction progress of the 6-storey building which will house the market.
The market which will have facilities like cold rooms, meeting halls, offices, and restaurants among others is earmarked to house close to 650 traders.
Ngumo who is also Murang’a County Commissioner said the market is also constructed in a way to give persons living with disabilities opportunities to do businesses on the premises.
He noted that already registered 520 traders who were relocated to give space for construction of the market will be given priority in allocation of stalls.
“The traders who were displaced will first be allocated stalls and the remaining spaces will be balloted. Once the traders occupy the building, the market will then be handed over to county government administration,” he explained.
The commissioner promised that issuance of the stalls will be transparent, urging traders who were displaced and have no space to carry their businesses to be patient till the project is complete.
The market will be served by the Mau Mau link road which is under construction thus facilitating transportation of farm produce to other regions including Rift valley.
Elsewhere, the government is also constructing another market at Kanyenyaini trading centre in Kangema Sub County.
The project which commenced in September 2021 is 40 per cent complete and expected to be completed by March this year.
The farm produce market funded at Sh. 31 million will directly benefit more than 150 traders.
The CDICC chairman told contractors to work within the given timelines to give local traders better areas to carry out their businesses.
“The government has invested greatly to see small scale traders get better places to carry out their businesses and I appeal to contractors undertaking the projects to ensure they complete the works in stipulated time,” added Ngumo.
By Bernard Munyao
