NAIROBI, Kenya, May 21 – The newly built Chuka Modern Market is set to change the business landscape in Tharaka Nithi County following its handover by President William Ruto.
As the market becomes fully operational, the Tharaka Nithi County Government is now focusing on the equitable allocation of stalls to ensure that the “hustlers” at the heart of the county’s economy are the primary beneficiaries of this transformation.
Speaking at the site, the project’s Site Manager, Abdi Kani, confirmed that the market is designed to accommodate more than 400 traders and is equipped with modern amenities aimed at improving the trading environment.
“This market will have parking, a kitchen, both open and lockable stalls, and an ICT hub complete with a server room,” he said, adding that the facility represents a significant upgrade from the previous market structures.
At the peak of construction, Mr. Kani says the project employed between 400 and 500 workers, including approximately 150 skilled labourers and over 300 unskilled workers. Most of the workforce was sourced locally, providing employment opportunities and boosting household incomes within the Chuka community.
Echoing these sentiments, Edward Wesonga Were, a terrazzo expert working on the project, highlighted the direct economic benefits experienced by local workers.
“This project has enabled me to provide for my family. It has also created job opportunities because the work requires many people, especially in terrazzo installation,” he said.
Were added that the income earned by young people working on the project is helping them sustain their livelihoods, support their families, and even invest in future opportunities within the service market.
The market is expected to significantly improve business conditions. The facility includes a spacious cold room to help traders preserve perishable goods such as vegetables, reducing post-harvest losses and enhancing profitability for vendors.
Residents say the project reflects a broader shift in development under the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, which has brought infrastructure projects previously associated with major cities closer to rural communities. “Before, such projects were only seen in big cities or on television, but now they are a reality even here,” Were noted.
The facility will also cater to social needs, with designated areas for breastfeeding mothers, safe play spaces for children, and food courts that are expected to create additional income streams for local entrepreneurs.
Stakeholders remain optimistic that the Chuka Modern Market will not only transform trade but also serve as a catalyst for economic growth and improved livelihoods across Tharaka Nithi County.
