Traders and residents of Kagio town in Ndia Constituency, Kirinyaga County, have welcomed the ongoing expansion and modernization of the Kagio Market, a project aimed at decongesting the busy fresh produce trading hub.
The two-storey market facility is being constructed through a partnership between the County Government of Kirinyaga and the National Government under the Economic Stimulus Programme.
The expansion is part of a series of development projects launched by President William Ruto during his recent tour of the Mt. Kenya region.
Once complete, the modern facility will offer a range of amenities including internet connectivity, toilets, a reliable water supply, electricity, and a perimeter wall.
The upgraded market will feature not only an expanded trading space but also a community hall, ICT hub, cold storage facilities, administrative offices, a food court, eco-toilets, water harvesting and storage infrastructure, garbage management facilities, revenue collection points and a crèche for mothers with young children.
The Ksh 357 million project aligns with the Kenya Kwanza administration’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
The market’s capacity will increase from 1,500 to 3,000 traders, with completion expected by May next year.
Kagio is one of the busiest towns in Kirinyaga County, serving residents from Ndia, Mwea, and Kirinyaga Central constituencies.
The government, through the State Department of Housing and Urban Development, also plans to construct an additional Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) market in the area at a cost of approximately Ksh 310 million.
President Ruto laid the foundation stone for this project during his recent visit.
The ESP market will create space for an additional 750 traders and include another ICT hub to empower local youth.
Currently, Kagio Market supports over 2,000 traders who sell assorted goods and produce, and attracts an estimated 5,000 buyers from within and beyond Kirinyaga, including Nairobi and Mombasa.
The market primarily deals in the retail and wholesale of fresh farm produce such as tomatoes, vegetables, bananas, maize, potatoes and avocados.
It is a key revenue generator and plays a significant role in the region’s economy.
By Adan Ibrahim
