The Embu Municipal Market which was early this year set ablaze by arsonists, will soon be reconstructed after the County Assembly of Embu allocated Sh. 10 Million for its reconstruction.
Led by Kirimari ward MCA, Morris Muchiri, the MCAs reassured stall owners who were operating in the market, once County Budget for the 2020/2021 Financial Year is enacted and assented to by Governor Martin Wambora, the construction works would start immediately.
In a statement sent to KNA by the County Public Communications Officer, Mutugi Njue on Sunday, Muchiri assured that the original stall owners would be given the first priority when the ground floor of the market is complete.
The MCA also noted that other jobless youth and small-scale entrepreneurs would be considered for allocation of trading spaces in other floors as construction of the multi-storey building progresses.
While acknowledging that Sh.10 Million was only for the first phase of the project, Muchiri scoffed at unscrupulous politicians whom he alleged were behind the arson attack, and warned them to stop gambling with the lives of traders in Kirimari Ward.
Muchiri also called for the county government of Embu to install firefighting equipment at the new market and also rehabilitate the county fire engines to help contain fire disasters in future.
MCAs said that being at the heart of the county headquarters; the market is serving traders who come from other wards across the county, hence serving the whole county.
They recommended the market to be upgraded from a few small stalls to a business park that could house several other traders operating without permanent business premises within the town.
The market was gutted in March this year whereby over 50 traders lost property worth thousands of shillings.
The traders had written to the assembly seeking intervention of the County Assembly for compensation and for the market reconstruction.
By Kimani Tirus
