President William Ruto is currently on a five-day tour of the Western Kenya region. On Monday, January 20, Ruto announced bonuses for sugarcane farmers in Mumias, Kakamega County.
He then convened a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday at the Kakamega State Lodge, where they reviewed various government programs and projects.
Following the meeting, the President was expected to oversee the launch of key market projects in Western Kenya as part of the 17 markets targeted for modernization in the Western Kenya region.
They include Bumala Modern Market, Luanda Modern Market, and the Bungoma (Soko Kubwa) Market.
The program is part of a comprehensive five-year market development strategy focusing on ESP, municipal, county strategic, and metropolitan markets.
Each project exceeds the minimum land requirement of one acre, with spacious plots of 2-3 acres ensuring ample space for all planned facilities.
Ruto to commission markets in Western Kenya
During this tour, three markets will be visited and commissioned by President Ruto. These include Bungoma (Soko Kubwa) Market, Bumala, and Luanda Modern Markets.
This initiative represents a significant investment of approximately Ksh969 million in three strategic markets, aimed at transforming local commerce and improving livelihoods.
The Bungoma (Soko Kubwa) Market, Bumala, and Luanda Modern Markets comprise Ksh373.1 million, Ksh230.5 million, and Ksh365.8 million investments respectively.
Construction has commenced on all three projects, with Bumala and Bungoma markets showing progress of 4% and 5% respectively.
Foundation works are currently ongoing, and presidential foundation stone laying ceremonies are being scheduled.
The strategic markets are designed as comprehensive commercial hubs that integrate modern amenities with traditional trading practices.
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Each facility features a striking four-storey market building that will transform the local skyline while providing ample trading space.
State-of-the- art cold storage facilities will help reduce post-harvest losses and ensure food safety, while dedicated ICT hubs will bridge the digital divide by enabling traders to participate in e- commerce and digital financial services.
The markets include thoughtfully designed childcare facilities, allowing parent traders to work while their children are safely cared for nearby.
Administrative offices, food courts, and modern ablution blocks ensure comfortable daily operations, while dedicated parking areas and efficient waste management systems maintain orderly environments.
The integration of reliable water and electricity infrastructure, along with first aid rooms and community meeting spaces, creates a self-contained ecosystem that serves both commercial and social needs.
Economic Impact
These strategic markets represent a transformative investment in Western Kenya’s economic infrastructure.
Together, these markets will create formal trading spaces for over 3,400 daily traders, with the capacity to accommodate up to 5,500 traders during peak market days.
The diverse commercial activities supported include fresh produce, fish, textiles, and household goods, creating a comprehensive marketplace that serves both local and regional needs.
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The cold storage facilities will significantly reduce post-harvest losses, contributing to food security and enabling traders to better manage their inventory.
In addition, the integration of ICT hubs will facilitate digital commerce, opening new markets and opportunities for local traders.
The construction phase is also creating numerous employment opportunities, while the completed markets will generate permanent jobs in administration, security, and facility management.
Amenities
The projects are expected to catalyze growth in supporting sectors such as transport and supply chain services expected to catalyze growth in supporting sectors such as transport and supply chain services, contributing to broader regional economic development.
A fundamental improvement comes through enhanced water and sanitation infrastructure.
The modem ablution blocks, clean water supply, and proper drainage systems will significantly improve hygiene conditions for both traders and customers, addressing a long-standing challenge in traditional markets.
These improvements are particularly crucial for food handlers and will contribute to better public health outcomes in the surrounding communities.
The introduction of childcare facilities addresses a critical challenge faced by parent traders, particularly women, who have historically struggled to balance their commercial activities with family responsibilities.
These facilities will enable parents to focus on their businesses with the assurance that their children are safely cared for nearby.
These strategic market developments directly fulfill key commitments in the Kenya Kwanza manifesto’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
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