Construction of an ultra-modern market at Kangari Trading Centre in Murang’a is expected to start in two weeks’ time.
The six-storey building was expected to support packaging of vegetables and horticulture produce for export.
The National government has released Sh.210 million to support construction of the market whose total cost is Sh.340 million.
The Kigumo MP, Ruth Mwaniki said that groundbreaking of the market would be done early June and the project would take less than a year to be completed.
Mwaniki said the market was promised by President Uhuru Kenyatta to benefit vegetable and horticulture farmers in Kigumo and neighbouring regions.
Speaking as she distributed masks and sanitizers to cushion coffee and tea farmers from covid-19 at Kigumo market on Friday, the legislator observed that the market would boost export of vegetables from the area.
“The market will be linked to Naivasha dry port by the Mau Mau road which is under construction. The 500 kilometre road will link counties east of Abadare forest with Rift Valley,” added the MP.
“The market’s first phase will be completer at cost of Sh.210 million which the national government has already released. The local CDF will also chip in some funds towards the realization of ultra-modern market,” she said.
The market comes as appreciation in honour of the late Kigumo MP, Kariuki wa Njiiri who stepped aside for the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta to venture into leadership towards end of colonial rule.
Mwaniki lauded the government for Mau Mau road which is already under construction and was aimed at linking four counties; Nyeri, Murang’a, Kiambu and Nyandarua.
The Sh.30 billion road is expected to spur economic growth and boost trading activities between Mount Kenya and Rift Valley regions.
She further said that tea farming in the region would benefit a lot from the road as tea auctioning could be done at Naivasha dry port.
According to the design, the market will have a packaging bay and cold stores that will assist the traders in preservation of farm produce before export.
Meanwhile, the legislator challenged locals to plant more trees during this rainy season, saying Ndakaini dam which is major supplier of water to Nairobi and its environs depended on rivers which flowed from Kigumo.
“Today we are also giving out avocado seedlings to farmers as we encourage them to take advantage of the rains and plant as many trees as possible,” noted Mwaniki.
By Bernard Munyao
