The government, through the State Department for Housing and Urban Development, is constructing a Sh310 million Economic Stimulus Package (ESP) market in Kagio, Kirinyaga County, with the project currently at 60 per cent completion.
President William Ruto laid the foundation stone for the two-storey market in April 2025, with the facility expected to be completed by June this year.
Once finished, the market will accommodate more than 1,000 traders and include an ICT hub aimed at empowering young people with digital skills.
According to the site clerk of works, Justus Chomba, the project is part of a broader government strategy to support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by providing modern trading infrastructure, including storage facilities and essential amenities.
Chomba noted that the project has also created employment opportunities for local residents, with about 20 skilled workers and over 30 unskilled labourers engaged on site daily.
He added that all construction materials and supplies have been sourced locally, benefiting the Kagio business community.
“We are about 60 per cent in progress. We are projecting to finish the project by June this year so that we can allow the traders into Kagio modern markets to continue doing their business as usual. The market will accommodate over a thousand traders who will be doing business inside the block,” Chomba said.
A local carpenter working on the site, Samuel Waweru, encouraged young people to apply the skills acquired in colleges by taking advantage of opportunities in ongoing government projects.
He said the income from the project has enabled him to be self-reliant and remain productively engaged, reducing the risk of involvement in illegal activities.
Waweru called on the government to initiate more development projects to create employment for the youth.
“I can talk to young people and tell them, if you have never been to a technical school or if you are just staying at home, it is good to go to school to study a technical course, which will give you an opportunity in life and will enable you to improve your skills,” Waweru said.
He noted that the projects have enabled him to make use of skills that he learnt in technical schools, urging the government to bring more and more projects that can bring more opportunities to the youth.
Traders who were previously operating under modern shades were relocated to Kagio Town to pave the way for the construction of the new market.
One of the traders, Janice Michael, a watermelon vendor, said traders have faced challenges since the relocation, including pest infestations—particularly rats—that have damaged their products.
She urged the government to fast-track the completion of the market so traders can return to a secure and organised trading environment.
Michael added that the relocation has affected customer access, as some buyers are unwilling to walk to the temporary trading site.
Despite the challenges, she welcomed the expansion of the market, noting that it will accommodate more traders and improve business operations.
Once completed, the Kagio ESP market is expected to help traders transition from informal roadside vending to structured and formal business spaces, enhancing safety, hygiene, and long-term business growth.
By Mutai Kipng’etich
