Lugari Sub County, in Kakamega County, is set to benefit from the construction of a second modern market estimated to cost Sh50 million.
The market to be constructed at the Pan-paper trading centre in Lugari Ward will be built through funding under the government’s Economic Stimulus Programme.
The modern market becomes the second to be constructed in the subcounty after President William Ruto laid a foundation stone for the construction of the first one at Chekalini Market in Chekalini Ward last year.
Speaking during the official launch of the market construction, the Secretary, State Department of Housing and Urban Planning, Polycarp Onyango, said the modern storey market that will sit on one acre of land, on completion, will accommodate about 200 traders.
While handing over the site to Intellect Contractors, Onyango said, “Today I am here to hand over the site for the Panpaper Scheme market to the contractor so that he can embark on construction work immediately. We expect it to be complete in six months.”
Onyango added, “The market is designed to have 200 stalls at the ground floor, although the number may go up to 600 on a designated market day. Besides the stalls, the market will also have an Information, Communication and Technology hub for the youths to access internet services, a breastfeeding room for young female traders, a refrigeration centre for perishable goods to guard traders from losses and a boardroom for meetings.”
He further explained, “Additionally, the market will have an ablution block, and water will be drilled within it.”
Onyango also revealed that plans are in top gear to construct another modern market at Lwandeti market in Lwandeti ward, a modern hostel to accommodate about 1000 students at Chevaywa Technical Institute, and a 300-student dormitory at Kivaywa Secondary School, all in Chevaywa ward.
Lugari Member of Parliament, Nabii Nabwera, lauded President William Ruto for facilitating the construction of the three modern markets in the constituency, a dormitory at Kivaywa Secondary School, a hostel at Chevaywa Technical Institute, and the upgrading to bitumen standards of the Turbo-Sikhendu road.
He reminded his constituents that people vie for elective seats to bring development to their respective areas and not just to politics.
“Soon we shall have a modern market here in Panpaper, and next to it there will be a tarmacked road. This will make it easily accessible to traders from the neighbouring counties like Bungoma and Uasin Gishu, hence bolstering trade and transforming our economy,” he stated.
Kakamega County Chief Officer for Trade, Faith Gitira, said the county government’s contribution to the project is the land where the market will sit and asked the market management committee to register all the current traders operating in the trading centre so that they are prioritised once the construction of the modern market is complete.
Gitira urged Panpaper traders to take advantage of cheap interest loans her department is giving out to traders to bolster their businesses.
Also present during the occasion were Lugari Sub County Administrator Mary Mukatia, area Assistant County Commissioner Wambua Mbinya, and her Lumakanda counterpart Christine Cheboi.
By Melechezedeck Ejakait
