State to construct market in Ngong : The Standard

Construction of a Sh700 million market will begin in Ngong this week. According to Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure James Macharia, the four-storey market will accommodate 2,300 traders. Mr Macharia, accompanied by Kajiado Governor Joseph ole Lenku while inspecting the site at the weekend, said constructionwould be funded by the Exchequer and World Bank. The Ngong project is one of the three multi-million markets the Government wants to construct in Kajiado County.

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The others will be in Ole Kasasi and Kitengela. Mr Lenku said the project had met some resistance from traders who had voiced various concerns, but the county addressed their fears. The traders had initially supported the project but later disagreed with the county administration over relocation plans, since the market had to be moved nearer to the Ngong stadium. Give priority The county announced that priority in the allocation of stalls in the market would be given to traders who operated in the previous market.

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“We shall give priority to the traders who were already there and the youth for whom we want to create job opportunities,” said Lenku. “We want minimal disruption of livelihoods. The market will transform Ngong town, and attract customers from Nairobi,” he added. Ngong traders’ spokesperson Geoffrey Wamae told the county establishment to keep their word on ensuring established traders got priority in the new market. “We have agreed to move and call upon the county government to fulfill its part of the bargain,” said Mr Wamae. Despite the traders’ grievances, Ngong MCA Robert Sungura assured the World Bank and the Government that the project had full support of the traders.

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Related Topics

NgongNgong MarketJames MachariaInfrastructure