The new Wakulima Market along Kangundo road is set to open at the end of October.
Traders at the market can now feel relieved as President William Ruto and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja are set to commission the market after five years of waiting.
“Traders operating at the parking lot outside the market have been enumerated and will also be accommodated within the building,” Sakaja said
Moreover, this new market worth Sh800 million was built to accommodate traders who were displaced by road expansion projects on Kangundo Road, Mtindwa and the dualling of Outering road.
In addition, the traders from Marikiti in the city center will also be assigned spaces at the new market.
While speaking during his tour of the market on Wednesday, October 5, governor Sakaja stated that the few disputes on allocation of stalls will have been resolved before the launch.
“Immediately after the opening ceremony, stall owners will elect their officials who will be responsible for the management of the market, including running the amenities like toilets and parking,” he said.
Furthermore, the Kenya Urban Raods Authority (Kura) in July 2021, announced that 943 traders displaced during the 13km dualling of Outering Road would be relocated to the market.
Kura director general Silas Kinoti noted that another 490 spaces had not yet been allocated at the market. He then called on interested persons to apply at the deputy county commissioner’s office in Njiru sub county at no charge.
Likewise, forty-nine stalls out of the total had been set aside for Persons with Disabilities.
For instance, Mowlem ward has been allocated 147 stalls through the criteria which will be applied to all the other wards.
Johnson Sakaja also revealed that the trading space will accommodate offices of the MCA (Mowlem) and area Ward Administrator.
Nonetheless, the governor was flanked on the inspection tour by Deputy Governor Njoroge Muchiri, Embakassi Central MP Mark Githiru, Embakassi West MP Mark Mwenje and Mowlem Ward MCA Martin Wairobi.
Construction of the market which was funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) began in July 2017. Mkulima trading center is expected to help decongest county markets and increase access to quality, affordable and sustainable food.
Moreover, this double-storied market has 158 stalls, 12 shops, 36 shutters on the ground floor and additional shutters on the first floor.
There are abolition and shower blocks on each floor as well as external washrooms, four 10,000-litre water storage tanks and two 900,000 litre underground water tanks.