Homa Bay town is set to benefit from a newly constructed Sh117.8 million modern market that will be inaugurated next month.
The market is one of the projects funded by the World Bank in conjunction with the national government as a way of putting up new urban infrastructures in 59 municipalities countrywide at a cost of Sh28 billion.
Speaking at the Homa Bay Municipal Market during an inspection tour of the project, Housing and Urban Development PS Charles Hinga, explained that this was an initiative by the government to enhance social infrastructure to better the lives of the people.
“The traders themselves decided on what they wanted the government to do for them, it was not a decision of the government to construct the market,” said Hinga.
He added that the modern market that holds over 400 stalls has a capacity of over 2000 traders that were initially moved to create space for the construction as well as new traders within the region.
The PS further explained that the government will empower traders in the selected municipalities and their board members so that they can address the challenges facing them, adding that the municipalities were a way for the government to bring development and power much closer to the people.
On her part, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Lands and Housing, Roseline Odhiambo explained that issuing of the market stalls to traders will be conducted in a free and fair manner.
“As soon as the market is commissioned before the end of the year, we will first issue stalls to the initial occupants of the old market who were relocated before we can bring in new traders,” she said.
Odhiambo also warned the traders against issuing payments in exchange for the stalls saying the market was a purely public project, with nothing for sale.
By Mary Malaki
