Malaba: Traders at Malaba market have a reason to smile after President William Ruto launched the construction of an ultramodern market in Malaba worth Sh350 million. The Head of State laid the foundation stone to mark the immediate commencement of work at the 1.2-acre piece of land at the border town.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Malaba County Strategic Market will be equipped with modern facilities, including storerooms, cold rooms for fresh fruits, and lactating rooms for mothers. It will host 1,000 modern stalls, creating a conducive environment for traders and turning Malaba into a commercial hub. This initiative is part of the Kenya Kwanza manifesto to modernize existing market infrastructures, uplift small-scale traders for economic growth, and inspire development from the grassroots.
President Ruto emphasized the significance of Malaba as a pivotal town for trade in the country, highlighting the need to enhance its infrastructure to reflect the income it generates nationally. He stated that the facility will help expand business at the busy border town by serving as a central trading hub linking producers, wholesalers, and consumers both in the country and in neighboring nations.
Through the government's economic stimulus program, Busia has benefited from 14 modern markets constructed at an estimated cost of over Sh633.8 million. These markets include ESP markets in various sub-counties such as Amagoro and Angurai in Teso North, among others.
The projects underscore the government's commitment to transforming local economies through inclusive development and infrastructural growth. Additionally, they are a testament to the government's dedication to transforming the business environment and expanding the SME sector into an industrial hub, which can absorb millions of jobless Kenyans.
Traders who spoke to the press after the launch applauded the President for keeping his promise but noted that the targeted 1,000 stalls at the market are inadequate for the over 3,000 traders the market accommodates during market days. Strategically located less than a kilometer from the border, Malaba market is attractive to traders from both Kenya and neighboring Uganda. It is widely known for cereals trade, handling an estimated 120 tonnes of cereals transacted annually through the Malaba OSBP.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi urged the residents to support the President, citing his development projects across the country.