Construction of a Sh50 million modern market in Mwatate town, Taita Taveta County is set to be completed before the end of this financial year.
The project is being developed in partnership between the county government and the World Bank under the Kenya Urban Support Programme (KUSP), a five-year World Bank programme targeting 45 counties across the country aimed at improving infrastructure.
Mwatate and Voi towns are beneficiaries of the infrastructural development project, economic setup and the general modernisation of the urban areas. The modern market upon completion is set to accommodate over 200 small-scale traders in the area. Mwatate market chairperson Sophline Muya revealed that the county government department of Trade to allocate stalls and spaces to traders but called for total cooperation between the department officials and the traders.
Boost in economy
โWe hope process of allocation of spaces and stalls in the new market shall be transparent to us genuine traders. Traders have already applied for the spaces and the allocation process is ongoing. We also want the department to allow some of those who will miss permanent stalls to erect shades outside the market to accommodate all of us,โ said Chairperson Muya.
โThe market will revamp the economic status of Mwatate town which has been lagging behind despite being the county headquarters and increase the county revenue. The traders will operate in a better place. We will collect revenue from them and this will enable us offer good services to the traders. The town has also benefited from improvement of roads and parking areas,โ said County executive for Trade Daniel Makoko.
