The Principal Secretary, State Department for Housing and Urban Development, under the Ministry of Lands, Charles Hinga, has announced government plans to to upgrade Gikomba Market in Nairobi to modern standards.
Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV on Tuesday night, PS Hinga said the government has taken note of the poor state of the market and is working to improve it.
He disclosed that President Ruto has committed to allocate Ksh5 billion through the State Department for Housing and Urban Development, towards the development of the market.
According to PS Hinga, the new Gikomba market will restore dignity to traders, enhance safety standards, and provide a more organized and conducive environment for business.
“We sat down with the president, and that is when he committed that there is going to be 5 billion shillings that will be appropriated through our state department to go and build a market that is modern, that provides dignity to traders, that will allow mothers to come with their children,” PS Hinga affirmed.
Hinga said the market’s deteriorating condition, which has rendered it largely nonfunctional prompted the market’s leadership to seek an audience with President William Ruto to request his intervention.
“The issue of Gikomba being a non-functional market, there is no space for any vehicles, even though there are roads because of the pressure that the chairman was talking about. It is the only place that does not reject anyone. Because of that pressure that has grown over time, Gikomba has become dysfunctional,” he said.
“The traders sought an appointment with the President in January. They made a request, the traders and the leadership and said to the President, Gikomba is not functional, come and help us,” he added.
Charles Hinga’s remarks came hours after the shoe section of the market was demolished on Tuesday, following the expiration of a 14-day eviction notice.
