Lamu county’s two major municipal markets that have been under construction and expansion for the last one year will be ready for use in January.
The Lamu municipal market in Lamu island and the Mokowe market on the mainland in Mokowe town are in the final stages of their facelift at a cost of Sh100 million.
They were each allocated Sh50 million, and the construction has been ongoing since September 2019 and January 2021 respectively for each.
Lamu market is currently at a completion rate of 87 per cent, while the Mokowe market is at 40 per cent.
The construction work on the two markets is being implemented by Lamu government with the support of the World Bank’s Kenya Urban Support Programme.
The programme's objective is to support fast-growing municipalities to develop sustainable urban economic plans and attract investment for critical infrastructure.
Lamu Industrialization executive Josephat Musembi said market infrastructure is a major initiative among the county’s social-economic strategy for trade and industry.
“We have seen an increase in business activities since the Lamu port was opened. Therefore, the completion of these markets becomes a major boost to the trade and industrialisation sector here,” Musembi said.
Lamu market, the largest in the region, has undergone major infrastructural transformation with Lamu Municipality manager Omar Famau confirming the works are in their final stages.
The project, which had been scheduled for completion by June 2020, was stalled for some time and delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic according to Famau.
With the new plan, the new market have more stalls, storage facilities, including coolants for highly perishable products and has been built in a user-friendly manner to accommodate persons with disabilities.
The market has been poised as a one-stop shop where locals and tourists will access all their grocery needs under the same roof.
The facility has also been expanded to accommodate over 200 traders compared to the older market that could only carry 100.
Mokowe market comprises five units with each unit capable to holding at least 40 traders and businesses.
The market will serve traders from major mainland areas of Mokowe and Hindi.
It will also favour farmers from islands such as Vumbe, Kizingitini, Pate and Faza.
The strategical positioning of the market just a few kilometers from the Lamu port site and the fact that Mokowe is the county headquarters gives it an edge for competitive trade over other markets in the county.
The market will serve to complement the Lamu and Mpeketoni markets on the upper end of the mainland.
“The markets will be ready for use by January 2022. There were some delays due to Covid-19 but we overcame. The delivery of these two is timely as it coincides with the county's economic empowerment programme for smallholder farmers to increase agricultural production in this place," Famau said.
He said they will also save traders and farmers the stress of having to travel to the Mpeketoni market for similar services.
Edited by EKibii
