Traders at Gikomba Market are set to benefit from improved working conditions as the Government advances the construction of a modern market to replace the congested and challenging trading spaces they have operated in for years.
The traders have for years faced difficulties including congestion, flooding, fires and inadequate working spaces. However, the ongoing construction is beginning to transform the market, with traders saying the new facilities offer a significant improvement from the muddy and overcrowded conditions they previously endured.
More than 5,000 traders who were displaced to pave the way for construction are expected to return from October, with the first phase of the project targeted for completion by October 15.
The modern market will feature lifts, parking facilities, a police station and a new firefighting system, facilities expected to address some of the longstanding challenges faced by traders and provide a more organised and secure environment for businesses.
Traders have also raised concerns over the cost of operating from temporary spaces during construction. According to the traders, small trading spaces have attracted charges of between Sh2,500 and Sh3,000, adding to the cost of doing business.
They say the completion of the modern market will ease the financial burden while providing them with better and more suitable facilities to conduct their businesses.
The project is being implemented in phases, with each phase expected to take no more than six months. Authorities say traders affected by each phase will be identified and allocated spaces before the respective sections of the market are completed.
The redevelopment of Gikomba Market is also being undertaken alongside efforts to clean the Nairobi River, which runs close to the market. The initiatives are expected to contribute to improvements in the surrounding environment while creating better conditions for traders and customers.
With thousands of traders expected to return to the upgraded facility, the transformation of Gikomba Market is poised to reshape one of Nairobi’s major trading centres and improve the environment in which businesses operate.
Read:Â Gikomba Market’s 7,000-Trader Modern Complex Takes Shape
>>>Â Gikomba Traders Promised Modern Market in 6 Months After Demolitions
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