Construction of a Sh 79million ultra-modern market at Otonglo in Kisumu West Sub-County has officially been launched the county government.
Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang Nyong’o who performed the launch ceremony said that the project aims at improving business environment at the urban centre which sits on a major highway to Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo.
The project is being sponsored by the World Bank under the Kenya Urban Support Project (KUP). It is in line with his government’s plan to grow the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s) sector to propel the economy of the lake side county.
Growing the SME sector
Upon completion, the market is set to accommodate 500 small scale traders. Governor Nyong’o said that four similar markets have been completed to accommodate traders who were relocated from various trading zones in the city. Construction and modernization of Kibuye market, which is the largest in East and Central Africa, is on course and will accommodate more traders once completed.
Prof Nyong’o affirmed that the national government funded Uhuru Business Park that was near completion and will accommodate 10, 000 traders once officially opened by President Uhuru Kenyatta in April. The county government is also in talks with development partners to secure funds to modernize and expand Jubilee market to accommodate more traders.
“Our resolve to put up these ultra-modern markets is a clear testimony that my government is committed to growing the SME sector. This is why we are relocating the traders affected by the operations to new grounds as they await the reopening of Uhuru Business Park, Kibuye and Otonglo,” said Prof Nyong’o.
