The Old Oloitiptip market in Kilifi town, the capital of Kilifi county, used to be an eyesore to visitors and a hellhole to vendors.
It was congested, had poor drainage and shoddy lighting systems, forcing some traders to operate from outside under the glaring heat of the sun.
The situation was worse during the rainy season as the facility flooded inside and posed a major health hazard.
But when journalists visited the market recently, they found traders operating in a completely new setup, with proper spacing allowances, drainage and lighting systems.
Both traders and customers have proper spaces for operations and movement, which makes it easier to do business in a spacious environment.
The renovation was done by the municipality under the auspices of the Kenya Urban Support Programme. It entails refurbishment of the market and opening up of an access road to the facility.
Mataza Kilumo, the chairman of Oloitiptip market traders, said the World Bank-funded project has really transformed their workplace.
Speaking at the market, he said previously, many traders were suffering, particularly during the rainy season, as they were operating from outside the facility.
“The market was really in a bad state. Many clients had to step on mud to access the products they wanted to buy, which was not conducive for business,” Kilumo said.
TRADERS HAPPY
The project took one and half years to complete, and since they got inside, the market business has been booming.
“We welcome everyone to come to Oloitiptip market. Get inside and you shall get everything you want, from fruits, vegetables to cereals," Kilumo said.
“For us, business is now good, only that there is a challenge of Covid-19 and we have to observe the government protocols,” he said.
The chairman, who sells cereals, has been at the market for many years and inherited his trade from the family. He said previously, the environment was poor but now it is good.
There is a special room for ripening bananas quickly, but it is yet to get a machine. Kilumo asked the municipality to look for funds and set up the cold room.
“We thank the World Bank for the funding. They upgraded the market for us and are now opening an access road for us,” he said.
He also thanked Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi for pushing for the project, adding that they were happy it's complete now and traders have a good area for working.
Kilumo said the county also drilled a borehole, which will reduce the costs of water bills. He asked the county to set up a solar system to cut the costs of electricity bills.
Kilifi Urban Development executive Maureen Mwangovya said the project targeted upgrading of the market to the standards it is in now.
It was originally built under the municipality with a capacity of 68 traders, but with the refurbishment, they have now almost tripled that number to 168 traders.
Mwangovya said the traders had to be moved to a makeshift area until the project was ready for them to be moved back.
“All the traders that were working inside and those operating outside have been able to get space now, and that’s how we were able to increase the number to 168,” she said.
Before there was no electricity at the market, it was not as spacious as it is, the lighting was poor, the hygiene standards were terrible. But now we have traders working for longer hours, meaning more income for them
MORE LUCRATIVE
The executive said currently, the population of Kilifi is around 78,000 people, and about three-quarters of it depends on the market for goods as it's both retail and wholesale.
She said the traders have increased and are earning more, which will improve their economic livelihoods and living standards.
She said the project will also increase the revenue the market will get for the county government, and suppliers’ income will be boosted.
“Before there was no electricity at the market, it was not as spacious as it is, the lighting was poor, the hygiene standards were also very poor. But with the new project, we have traders working for longer hours, meaning more income for them,” she said.
To improve hygiene, there are now garbage bins in the market, which are collected periodically by the relevant department.
Urban development chief officer Moses Gunda said the project introduced an upper level in the premises.
This accommodates retail activities other than the groceries and greeneries sold at the market.
“The purpose of installing electricity was, in essence, to ensure the market can operate longer hours,” he said.
They also established a service lane, which is meant to service the market and the plots surrounding Biashara street, which is within the CBD.
The service lane is coupled with a lorry park for servicing the market. Installation of streetlights is scheduled after the tarmacking of the service lane is completed.
Gunda said the World Bank gave a loan to the national government and in turn, the State Department of Housing and Urban Development is giving conditional grants to the municipalities.
There are 59 municipalities in Kenya, two of which are in Kilifi county. The programme was set up in two components. One is the Urban Institutional Grant, which is meant to help strengthen the institutions of urban governance (municipal boards).
The second component comprises the Urban Development Grant, which is meant to do development in terms of infrastructure within those municipalities.
“So, for Kilifi, the project that was targeted was the refurbishment of Oloitiptip market,” he said.
“The funding structure was in such a way that it’s a $20 (Sh2,000) that are given per capita. So on the basis of the population.”
As per the 2009 census, Kilifi town had about 47,000 people, so the municipality received Sh98 million, which was used for opening up of the market and the access lane.
Gunda said the project had its own hiccups because they had to relocate the traders to upgrade it and also open up the access road, which had also been encroached by so many structures.
“Through the Development Control Unit, we were able to demolish the structures that were along that particular road and built the temporary structures where the traders were able to operate,” he said.
24-HOUR ECONOMY
The market is centrally located in the Kilifi CBD and the Kilifi municipality. There are other markets, but the history behind the Oloitiptip market made it ideal for traders and even the farmers in terms of supplying their wares and the access by the locals to fresh produce from the market.
“I believe produce from as far as Taita Taveta, Langobaya is normally brought into this market. So the value chain along that whole stretch is very inclusive and economically builds a very strategic component of economic activities in Kilifi county,” he said.
With the upgrading, the market can now operate as a 24-hour economy. Once the Covid-19 pandemic is gone, the market will be in operation as early as 5 in the morning to 11 pm.
The market serves the entire Kilifi county as it receives goods from Chonyi, Kaloleni, Bamba, Kilifi and Malindi, while others are supplied from Kongowea and Central Kenya.
There was an agreement between the traders and the municipality that required no trader would be outside the market at a distance of 500m, including fruit vendors and vegetables. All of them were forced to get inside.
Fruit vendor Issa Islam, the deputy secretary of the market, inherited the business from his late mother. He said previously, he used to operate under an umbrella in the sun.
During the dry season, it was a nightmare due to excess heat. But after the upgrading, he got a stall at one of the strategic areas.
“Initially the stalls were very close to each other. Where I was there were three tents with many traders. People were congested to the extent that in case of a disease outbreak, it could have been dangerous,” he said.
Currently, there is a sigh of relief even during this time of the pandemic as everyone has space for work.
Islam said there is a concern about the name of the market, which they proposed to be changed to Mekatilili Menza, Karisa Maitha or any other legendary person.
Another trader Mary Reina said she is happy the project was completed as they were previously suffering during the rainy season and excess heat during the dry season.
“We used to be having ailments each time and pleaded with the governor about upgrading the market. Now we are happy our cries were heard and we have a new modern market,” she said.
Reina, who sells vegetables, is happy to sit at her space, selling her vegetables to her customers freely.
“I am happy to welcome clients to buy vegetables. I have peace. All the problems I used to have are over now,” she said.
Edited by T Jalio