The dream to construct one of Kenya’s most modern retail markets in Kajiado County nears reality.Top officials of the Nairobi Metropolitan Services Improvement Project (NAMSIP) handed over the new site to the contractor, China Tiancheng Construction Company in a function attended by the Deputy Governor, Martin Moshisho.
The 4-storey ultra-modern market will house 2,300 traders and its construction will now begin.The relocation site is the first phase of the project and will cost Ksh 60 Million.It will be completed in the next six weeks.
The County’s Department of Trade has managed to unclog the standoff between traders and the County Government that almost frustrated efforts to have a new complex market which is expected to be the biggest in East and Central Africa.
During the launch, H.E Moshisho thanked the Ngong market traders for their commitment that saw them agree to shift in January to their temporary new market site under construction.”We shall give priority to the traders who were already there and the youth for whom we want to create self-employment job opportunities,” said the Deputy Governor.
The Ngong Market is one of the three multi-million markets NAMSIP wants to construct in Kajiado County.The others are Ole Kasasi and Kitengela.
NAMSIP Deputy Director Peter Mwaura confessed that the project almost collapsed due to traders grievances but thanked Governor Joseph Ole Lenku for intervening and whipping the traders in accepting to embrace the projects.
On several occasions, Trade and Investments Chief Officer Grace Saitoti held a series of meetings with the traders to hammer out all the pending issues.
Ngong MCA Robert Sungura assured the World Bank that the project had full support of the traders.