Markets in Murang’a have undergone Sh500 million upgrades by both the national and county governments.
The upgrades aim to provide a conducive environment for locals to sell their farm produce.
The agricultural county is the main avocado producer in the country and is among the largest coffee- and tea-producing counties nationally.
The biggest market being constructed is the Sh342 million Kangari market in Kigumo constituency.
Started in 2020, the market will help local farmers to export local agricultural produce and will be equipped with cold rooms.
The six-storey market will also have eateries and modern sanitary facilities, meeting halls and offices.
It will act as a collection centre for agricultural produce from Murang’a and the surrounding counties.
With the capacity to accommodate more than 900 traders, the market that is strategically located in the upper part of the constituency is expected to serve the productive area bordering the Aberdare forest.
MP Joseph Munyoro said the market is 67 per cent done and will transform the area's economy once completed in December this year.
“My appeal to traders who transport produce from Nyandarua to the area, utilise the cold rooms in the market and eradicate the need to buy them every day because you can buy in stock and cut costs,” he said.
The market, Munyoro said, will absorb the majority of the traders lining the streets in Kangari town and will help boost hygiene in the town.
In the same constituency, the national government is upgrading Muthithi market at a cost of Sh100 million.
The market, one of the busiest in the region, will have a one-storey building and modern facilities that will ease business activities.
“Muthithi market is more than 50 per cent done and will be smaller but will also be instrumental in the growth of the area,” Munyoro said.
On Wednesday, the Urban Planning and Public Works committee in the National Assembly visited the market as they toured some of the markets being implemented.
The committee, which is led by Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ngeno, said it is establishing whether the projects being funded by the national government are progressing as they should as the Kenya Kwanza government celebrates one year in office.
“Our scope includes affordable housing, social housing, markets, planning and urban development, all functions that are shared between the two governments,” he said.
Ngeno expressed satisfaction with the progress of the projects, saying the government is staying true to the transformation agenda it laid before Kenyans before it took the reins of power.
He emphasised the need for both governments to consult before implementing the shared projects to ensure they serve their intended purpose.
Failing to conduct public participation, he said, may result in stalling of projects such as the markets constructed under the Economic Stimulus Programme implemented by the late President Mwai Kibaki.
Most of the markets stalled and were abandoned despite gobbling huge public funds.
“The President has asked the National Assembly to allocate money for their completion,” Ngeno said.
“We have visited the markets. Some were done, others were not while others have been completely destroyed.”
He emphasised the need for counties to consult state departments while designing public projects to ensure they are properly designed.
Some markets, he said, are too closed and with many floors, which discourages traders from utilising them.
“You can imagine fresh produce being done on the first floor and the fifth floor. Which buyers will go all the way up to get the same produce?” he asked.
The MPs also inspected the Sh31 million Kanyenya-ini market in Kangema subcounty that has already been completed.
Governor Irungu Kang’ata said his administration has upgraded Ithiru, Kambiti, Kihoya and Gitugi markets, with each costing about Sh4 million.
Gatunyu market has had cabros installed, while Gatura, Kabati, Kangari, Maragua, Murang’a Town, Kahatia, Gakira and Kiria-ini towns have had tarmac streets constructed under the Smart Cities programme.