Kiganjo residents set to get new market

A new modern market is set to be built at Kiganjo village in Gatundu South ending decades of a poor environment that traders have been working under.

Kiambu County will spend Sh 24 million to put up a new market which will replace the old one that has been an eyesore to buyers and vendors.   
The old market, traders said, was built of makeshift polythene papers, weak-wooden materials that have not been cushioning them from heavy rains and scorching sun thereby limiting their operations.
The traders further pointed out that the old open-air market has been congested, with poor drainage and shoddy lighting.
They said that most of them are forced to sell farm produce, clothing among other items on the road as the market which serves over 2,500 customers on Wednesdays and Saturdays is not habitable.
According to them, the old market has been serving as fodder for politicians who woo them for votes promising to build it in futility every electioneering period.
“Politicians have been lying to us every time they want our votes. The song of building this market has been there for decades. In fact, we will only trust that something is being done when we see it,” Agnes Kagi, a trader said.
They accused former leaders in the area of taking them for a ride and urged the current county administration to expedite the construction process to boost their economic transformation.
Governor James Nyoro who officiated the groundbreaking for the re-construction of the market said that the market which will have underground dug water, modern lavatories, parking, fencing and cabros will be complete and operational by March next year.
Nyoro who insisted that traders are big contributors to the economy both at county and national levelhighlighted that Kiganjo market is among others that his administration is working on to improve the trading environment of all traders across the county.
Others include Gatukuyu whose construction will cost Sh 30 million, Kigumo in Githunguri, Soko Mjinga and Gitaru.
He said that his government is committed to enable farmers to sell their produce in a conducive environment, regretting that most traders currently sell in open-air markets thereby exposing their produce to harsh weather conditions that may lead to some of it getting spoiled and depreciating in value.
“We are committing to turning around the economic situation of our people by giving them the desirable environment to do business. We will not relent in ensuring that all our marketplaces are habitable and attractive to customers,” he said.