Over 2000 traders have been allocated stalls in the Ksh 700 million Ngong ultra-modern market in Kajiado county.
The traders who had earlier shifted to Ngong stadium are expected to relocate next week. The ministry of transport and infrastructure retained a list of traders published in 2020 when the process to assign stalls started.
“We are hopeful this market will be a one-stop-shop for our customers. For many years we have operated under the scorching sun by the roadside, risking our lives,” commented Jane Kamau.
Residents, however, expressed dissatisfaction in the allocation of 500 stalls citing corruption. They complained that 200 original traders were not included in the list.
According to the traders' spokesman Joseph Kinuthia, the county government should prioritize the existing traders.
"Transparency is key in the allocation of stalls. Those known traders, whose names are missing in the original list, ought to be considered. Extra stalls ought to be allocated fairly and without corruption, " he added.
Kajiado County Trade executive Alvin Kimani assured the traders that they will be given priority. He further added that they had set aside 100 stalls for Maasai traders and women groups.
“The locals will be considered for the remaining stalls. We want them to reap benefits from this modern market. More than 2,300 traders will be settled comfortably," Kimani assured.
The New Ngong modern retail market is a five-storey building built on a one-acre piece of land with a capacity to serve over 2000 traders in Ngong town. It provides dignified, safe, and secure trading spaces for traders to do their businesses.
It was financed by the world bank through Nairobi Metropolitan Services Improvement Project (NAMSIP). Currently, Nairobi has 23 built-up markets and 20 open-air markets.
The government, in February, disclosed a new system to allocate trading spaces in the newly revamped Ksh 2.2 billion markets in Nairobi county. The markets include Mwariro, Westlands, Gikomba, Karandini, and New Wakulima.
President Uhuru Kenyatta said that traders who previously inhabited the markets will be prioritized after the commissioning. Politicians were cautioned against instigating the public to unlawfully take up the spaces.
“Soon I will come here and open the Mwariro market, but I don’t want to see any incitement on who will occupy these markets. We want to have a fair process to ensure that everyone will have equal opportunity to occupy the stores,” he said.
The remaining spaces will be awarded through an open ballot system manned by government officials. Traders have been lured into paying for spaces in the market which they end up not getting, thus the system will ensure fairness.
NMS has started the facelift of eight open-air markets. The markets which will be upgraded include Muthurwa market, Jericho market, Wakulima market, Uhuru market, City Park market, Toi Market, and two markets which are along Landhies Road, and Kayole Spine Road in Embakasi.
