Traders in Bahati Sub County in Nakuru County are set to benefit from a multi-million integrated modern market to be constructed at Kabatini Trading Centre.
Speaking during the handover of the site, Governor Susan Kihika announced that the project is a partnership between the National Government and the County Government of Nakuru.
She said it will be completed in five months after the tendering process was completed in March.
According to Ms. Kihika, the project will include social halls, prefab stalls, market area segmentation, cold room facilities, offices, an ATM lobby, baby daycare services (creche), and primary processing facilities for value addition.
The governor also announced that the project will include supporting infrastructure such as sewers, high-mast flood lights and raised water tanks, banking institutions, a food court, and modern washrooms that will be compliant with the needs of persons living with disabilities.
Ms. Kihika assured the traders that they will have a conducive working environment to carry out their businesses once the project was completed.
She was accompanied by Deputy Governor Mr. David Kones, Bahati Member of Parliament Ms. Irene Njoki, Baringo County Women Representative Ms. Florence Jematia, her Nyeri counterpart Ms. Rahab Mukami, and area Member of the County Assembly Ms. Leah Nganga.
The two storey market will be constructed on half an acre of space, with at least 200 traders expected to have cold storage facilities.
“The market will also have water towers, cabros, ablution blocks, and market offices,” said Ms. Kihika.
She added that the objective of the market is to act as a feeder for the market hub in Bahati, Subukia, Nakuru Town East, and Nakuru Town West sub-counties.
Ms. Kihika said the national government, in partnership with counties, was committed to improving traders’ business environments in the country.
“The majority of Kenyans are traders by nature, and what they look for is the dignity of their hustles and the places they trade from, but most of them trade in filthy places where there is no road, sewerage, or other amenities, hence attracting people with low purchasing power,” said the governor.
The market is expected to bolster trade and transform the economy of the trading centre along the busy Nakuru-Nyahururu highway.
The Sh200 million modern market is part of the government’s Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP).
Bahati MP, Ms. Njoki, emphasised that the government’s investment in market infrastructure will ensure that traders at the grassroots operate in conducive environments and cut food losses.
“This will guarantee our farmers and traders more earnings to support more livelihoods in our county,” the legislator added.
The MP urged the contractor to ensure construction materials are sourced locally and all jobs are given to locals.
The market will consist of a ground floor that will accommodate more than 200 modern stalls for traders, and the first floor will include a boardroom.
The stalls will be divided into fresh produce, clothes, and wares sections.
In addition, the modern market will include a lactation room for breastfeeding mothers, an ICT room fully connected to the internet, and a revenue centre.
The market will further have food courts for traders to sell meals to consumers in the area.
Deputy Governor Kones noted that the project will help create employment in the area.
He asked the contractor to complete the project on time, further insisting on locals being prioritised in the supply of building materials and construction jobs.
The construction work will also include fencing the market and the construction of a modern ablution block with a biodigester for waste management.
For security purposes, the state will erect high-mast solar-powered floodlights that will ensure security for the traders as they undertake their businesses.
To facilitate sanitation, a borehole will be drilled for the provision of drinking water and cleaning purposes, with raised water tanks and a receptacle.
By Anne Sabuni
