Inside Sh365m Luanda Modern Market in Vihiga

An artist’s impression of the Luanda Modern Market in Vihiga

Luanda Modern Market in Vihiga County to be launched by President William Ruto on Wednesday, will cost Sh365.7 million.

The facility, which is expected to be complete in 12 months, will accommodate 1,000 daily traders and 2,000 traders on market days.

Goods to be traded at the market include fresh farm produce, cereals, fish, ceramics, clothes shoes, and general household commodities.

The facility will have the main market block for traders, cold rooms, ICT hub, creche, first aid/health room, offices, meeting rooms, garbage point, power house, provision for water and electricity, and parking.

“The development of Luanda Modern Market shall employ roughly 100 workers during construction, across low-skilled and skilled cadres,” State Department for Housing and Urban Development said.

It said the market will provide farmers with a larger pool of traders, as well as access to cold rooms and other storage facilities to store their farm produce for longer.

“This shall enable them to achieve fair prices for their produce. Therefore, market infrastructure is one important building block for the development of the agricultural sector and the overall economic development of the predominantly rural community of Luanda and the County of Vihiga,” it said.

An artist’s impression of the Luanda Modern Market in Vihiga

Markets are managed by the county governments and are among the biggest revenue earners for the counties.

Traders in these markets pay fees and levies to the county.

“The fee increases the Own Source Revenue (OSR) of the County Government of Luanda, increasing the capacity of the County Government to invest in the development of the area,” the department added.

In line with the Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and the Kenya Kwanza Manifesto, the State Department’s Urban Development Department initiated a market development programme in the country.

The programme aims to develop over 400 safe, secure, and modern markets where tradespeople, farmers, and customers can transact with dignity.

The programme includes Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) markets, municipal markets, modern markets, and metropolitan markets.