Malindi MP Amina Mnyazi has donated 2,000 portable stalls to small traders in the constituency.
The wooden stalls have covers to protect goods from rain and sun.
The MP said the stalls are foldable to enable mama mbogas, fishmongers and other small traders to pack and take them home when they close their businesses at the end of the day.
A trader can also relocate with it as it is light and easy to carry.
Mnyazi in the first phase is expected to distribute 150 stalls at Alaskan grounds, 100 at Msabaha grounds, 150 at Baolala in Langobaya, 100 in Jilore and 100 in Kakoneni.
Speaking during the official handover of the first 50 portable stalls at Alaskan grounds, the legislator said the move was meant to uplift small-scale traders.
“As you can see today, we are excited that we have brought these stalls which will help the women who are struggling. They include the mama mbogas and women selling chicken," she said.
The MP said during campaigns when she was seeking votes, she saw the challenges the women were facing.
Mnyazi said she found the project had been done in another area and decided to implement it in the area.
“Women in Malindi need to do business in a clean environment, a place where they can protect themselves from rain and sunshine so as to transform their lives,” she said.
The MP said she is working in partnership with the county government to ensure all markets in the constituency have portable stalls, specifically for women as they were the ones struggling to make ends meet for their families.
Mnyazi said a woman can work with the portable stalls anywhere and anytime.
“This is the real meaning of empowering hustlers. These are the people who deserved to be given help. The government should not forget the mama mboga,” she said.
Kilifi Woman Rep Gertrude Mbeyu hailed the MP for coming up with the initiative and promised to get more portable stalls so as to transform the lives of women in the area.
“I support this project and I want to assure women and youth and men selling in the market that I will increase the stalls through my office,” she said.
Alaskan market chairperson Kanga Ndao said they were happy to receive the stalls.
She said they suffer during the rainy season.
“We are suffering because of stormy water whenever it rains and we have to go near the tarmac. We also ask our MP to help us with toilets,” she said.
