Ruto promises to build Sh500 million modern market in Garissa

President William Ruto inspects the Garissa affordable housing project.

President William Ruto on Thursday announced that the government will soon embark on the construction of a new modern Garissa market.

The market, commonly known as suq mukdi, which has a capacity of more than 5,000 mostly small-scale traders dealing in clothing, groceries, electronics, eatery, butcheries, was reduced to ashes in the inferno in 2022.

There have been several fire outbreaks at the market, which have led to huge losses before the last one that occurred in June few months to the 2022 general election.

While some attribute the fires to electric faults from the nearby shops, others point an accusing finger at individuals for the fire.

Aware of these challenges that the traders have faced before, the president said that his administration has set aside Sh500 million for the construction of a new modern market.

“I want to give an undertaking that the government will soon embark on this major project of building a new modern market for Garissa County that will have cold rooms and storage where traders and farmers can use as offtake for their products,” he said.

The president was accompanied by several leaders, among them Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Environment CS Aden Duale and his lands counterpart Alice Wahome among other leaders.

Ruto allayed any fears that once the new market is done some traders who initially occupied it will be removed and replaced with new ones, saying that priority will always be given to the current occupants and that more spaces will be available to accommodate more traders.

"So I want to ask the leadership of that market and the leadership of the county government to closely work together with us so that we embark on this project. We have the resources to build a modern new market for Garissa people," Ruto said.

Already, the county has built new access roads at the market. This was among the issues that has always contributed to the spread of the fire since water bowsers cannot access the market to help.