Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development CS Alice Wahome has directed the contractor building the South B modern market to have it completed in the next 12 months.
Speaking during the ground breaking ceremony on Thursday, Wahome warned the contractor that there will be no extensions.
She said that the project is in line with President William Ruto’s plan to ensure traders have dignified places to conduct business.
“When President William Ruto said he is committed to lifting the dignity of small-scale traders and he meant exactly what we are doing today at South B. With a record of only 12 months, over 1,000 traders will have somewhere to trade their goods. The market will be done according to world modern standards,” Wahome said, as she assured traders that the government is committed to improving their working conditions.
Once complete, the market will host over 1,500 small-scale traders in Nairobi’s South B Ward.
Some of these traders have been operating along nine road corridors, including Kapiti, Aoko, Plainsview, Mwangeka, Sore, Mchumbi, Daidai, Mukenia, and Mariakani.
The modern market will other critical facilities like lactating centres and modern IT facilities, among others.
The new market is part of the government’s plan to build 10 modern markets in Nairobi by 2027 under the State Department of Housing and Urban Planning.
Lands, Public Works, Housing, Urban Development, Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome breaks ground for construction of South B modern market/BRIAN ORUTA
The Cabinet Secretary noted that other than South B, the ground-breaking ceremonies for the Kasarani market has already been done, with the remaining eight markets to be done in the coming days.
“The government has started working, and Nairobi residents will feel the impact. So far, we have done ground breaking for two, South B and Kasarani. In the coming days, I will also be visiting other areas to do the same,” Wahome added.
South B Ward Representative Waithera Chege, who had accompanied the CS welcomed the project, said the market will help transform the lives of her constituents.
She described the project as a major step forward for South B residents, who have long struggled with the lack of proper infrastructure.
Waithera added that the project is expected to not only provide a safe and modern space for traders but also help eliminate roadside vending, improving safety for pedestrians and drivers alike.
"Once we complete that market, I guarantee you no trader will be allowed on the roadside because I will hand over the roads to the Kenya Urban Roads Authority."
The MCA further assured traders that an enumeration process is underway to ensure that bonafide traders tenants and landlords get the market stalls once construction is complete.
She also narrated the struggles they have faced including when the land was nearly grabbed by a senior government official before local leaders intervened.
“We have serious land cartels in Nairobi who are frustrating government efforts to build modern markets. We are urging our President to move with speed and address this because it is now becoming catastrophic,” Waithera said.
Traders and South B residents staged a series of demonstrations after a developer fenced off the land meant for the market, claiming to have bought it.
It took the intervention of Waithera, who doubles up as the Nairobi County Assembly‘s Deputy Minority leader then petitioned the Nairobi County Assembly’s Lands Committee, which after probing the matter ruled that the land belonged to the public.
