Allocation of business spaces at Uhuru Business Park Market Complex in Kisumu is scheduled for November 12, this year and will be done through balloting.
Nyanza Regional Commissioner (RC), Magu Mutindika while presiding over a planning meeting convened to expedite the exercise and inform traders said the construction work was complete and the market complex was ready for business.
Mutindika said a special committee was formed to analyze and validate the list of traders, where those displaced during the refurbishment of Kisumu Port and others who paved way for the project will be given first priority.
“I urge the traders who have been validated by the special committee to turn up that day for they will surely get business spaces,” the Regional Commissioner reassured in an exclusive statement issued to KNA Thursday.
He said President Uhuru Kenyatta promised local residents that his government would build a modern business complex for traders when he toured the lakeside city accompanied by Former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga along with other dignitaries.
Mutindika explained that the complex has been divided into seven segments to cater for different kinds of businesses.
Kisumu Ag. City Manager, Abala Wanga while addressing a separate public forum said plans were at an advanced stage to open the modern market, which will gradually be transformed into a business hub.
Wanga said the traders must first occupy the place, showcase and provide their products and services to the general populace for some time, before it can be commissioned by President Uhuru Kenyatta as anticipated.
He said traders whose biometrics and names had been published in the Kenya Gazette will be given the first priority to occupy the spaces.
“This will be supervised and coordinated by the yet to be formed Market Management Committee and the County Trade Department,” he emphasized.
Construction of Uhuru Market complex started way back in 2019 and was projected to accommodate more than 2,000 displaced traders including those in Apindi Street and Nyamlori area. It has been constructed by the national government at a cost of Sh600 million.
By Joseph Ouma and Joseph Otieno
