For decades, traders at Iten market have endured muddy floors, leaking roofs, and unsanitary conditions while conducting their daily business. But that reality is set to change with the construction of a modern market facility that promises to revolutionize commerce in the Elgeyo Marakwet County headquarters.
Philemon Koech, one of the contracting officials at the site, says the multi-story facility has been carefully designed to accommodate a wide range of traders and services.
The market features a ground floor, first floor, and second floor, each tailored to enhance efficiency and provide a conducive trading environment.
“The ground floor will serve as the main trading area for farm produce, complete with preparation and storage spaces to ensure goods are handled hygienically before sale,” Koech said.
“We are also incorporating food courts, general merchandise sections, and retail shops to diversify business opportunities.”
Iten Market Traders
As a trader who has spent years selling goods in what can only be described as unsanitary conditions, cereal vendor Anita Chelagat witnessed firsthand the struggles her fellow vendors face.
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“During the rainy season, the market becomes virtually impassable, with thick mud making it impossible to keep our goods clean or attract customers,” she said.
The absence of proper sanitation and clean water has been a constant challenge for most of the traders in the open-air market and the older market in the town.
Situated at the heart of the town of Iten, the new market is poised to transform not just the trading conditions but also the entire face of Elgeyo Marakwet County’s headquarters.
The facility, together with the adjacent affordable housing project and other complementary infrastructure, will finally give Iten the dignified commercial center befitting its status as an administrative town in the region.
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The traders and stakeholders in the industry expressed gratitude to the government for taking into consideration the needs of various categories of users of the market in the design.
“As traders in both perishable and non-perishable goods, we are particularly excited about the inclusion of cold storage facilities. These will allow us to preserve our produce when market conditions are unfavorable, preventing losses,” Chelagat added.
Project officers at the site also indicate that the facility will be equipped with fast internet connectivity, enabling the business community to embrace e-commerce and online marketing of their products. This is projected to also enable the traders to make connections with customers and suppliers from afar.
