Traders at Gatukuyu market in Gatundu North sub-county can now heave a sigh of relief after the government began construction of a modern market.
The state has already injected Sh70 million towards the market upgrade, Gatundu North MP Elijah Njoroge said.
Speaking at the market's groundbreaking event on Tuesday, the MP noted that the project will take five months to complete.
Njoroge said traders have been operating in a derelict market.
“Days of operating under harsh climatic conditions are over. The Kenya Kwanza administration led by President William Ruto has given us the resources to build our traders a decent market which will turnaround their fortunes,” the MP said.
The market will accommodate over 1,000 traders, providing them conducive working conditions.
All traders will get slots in the upcoming market, the MP said, dispelling fears that some 'deep-pocketed individuals' were planning to sell the slots to the businesspeople.
It is among 20 markets that the national government is constructing across Kiambu county.
Njoroge was accompanied by MPs George Koimburi (Juja), Gabriel Kagombe (Gatundu South) and Alice Ng’ang’a (Thika).
Koimburi hailed the project as transformative, saying it will create job opportunities. He urged the contractor to ensure that 90 percent of the work is done by the youth, to rescue them from indulging in illicit brew.
Concurring, Kagombe said the market serves a huge population and especially those who ply along the busy Thika-Mang’u-Magumu-Flyover Road, which is also being constructed.
“This market will play a crucial role in enhancing this region’s economy since it serves people heading to Nakuru and the Rift Valley as well as those heading to the Garissa and the Ukambani region.”
The traders' Chairman Raphael Waweru said the market was godsent and long overdue since they have been operating under pitiable conditions.
Waweru said the current market place is congested and cannot effectively accommodate all traders, adding that most have been operating by the roadside. He called on local leaders not to derail its implementation, saying traders are only interested with development.
