Gikomba market upgrade progress/ PCS SCREENGRABThe ongoing construction of Nairobi’s Gikomba Market is expected to be completed within a month, according to a video shared by State House showing the ongoing works at the facility.
The video update shows the market at an advanced stage of construction, with sections of the facility undergoing plastering as work enters the final stages.
The development is aimed at improving the trading environment at one of Nairobi’s busiest markets, which serves thousands of traders and shoppers.
The ongoing works are part of efforts to modernise markets across the capital and provide traders with improved facilities.
In the video, the Gikomba project is shown with construction work progressing across different sections of the market.
Workers can be seen undertaking finishing works, including plastering, as the project moves closer to completion.
Site manager Ismael Muchiri said the construction had entered its final phase, with work now focused on preparing the facility for occupation by traders.
“We are in the stage of finishing. We are now doing the painting works, plastering and external works. Since this is a public facility, we are also doing some partitioning for stalls and other facilities,” Muchiri said.
The final works include partitioning the facility into stalls and other spaces that will be used by traders and other businesses once the market is opened.
The progress comes as questions over how traders will be accommodated in the new facility remain important to those who were relocated during the construction.
Shoe trader John Macharia expressed confidence that the completed facility would prioritise the traders and provide them with space to continue their businesses.
“We are confident each trader will get a place to do their business,” Macharia said.
Project manager John Njoroge said discussions on the allocation of trading spaces had been held with traders to ensure the process was transparent.
He said the project team had consulted traders on the allocation of slots and assured those who had been relocated that they would receive space at the completed facility.
“We have had transparent discussions to ensure that allocation of slots is very transparent and this is done with a lot of consultations with them,” Njoroge said.
Njoroge also said public participation on how the market would be managed was still ongoing, suggesting that traders would continue to have a role in discussions on the facility even as construction nears completion.
Gikomba is one of Nairobi’s major commercial centres, attracting traders and customers from different parts of the city and beyond.
The market is particularly known for its second-hand clothes and other merchandise, making it an important source of livelihood for many traders.
The upgrade is also expected to improve the general appearance and organisation of the market, while providing a better environment for businesses operating within the facility.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has previously pointed out that the county is constructing and modernising 20 markets across the capital’s 17 sub-counties as part of efforts to improve the welfare of traders.
“The dignity of our traders is at the heart of this programme. We are modernising 20 markets across all 17 sub-counties to create opportunities, support young entrepreneurs and strengthen local economies,” Sakaja said.
The county government has noted that the market projects are intended to provide better trading spaces while supporting small businesses and creating opportunities for young entrepreneurs.
