Chesinende: The National Government’s Chesinende Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) Modern Market in Kipkelion East Sub-County, Kericho County, has reached 90 per cent completion, with the facility set to improve trading conditions and boost economic activity for about 5,000 people in the area. The modern market includes a hotel, ICT room, pre-feeding center, cold storage facility, and a borehole, which is expected to provide clean water to traders and neighboring communities.
According to Kenya News Agency, Kipkelion East Sub-County Deputy County Commissioner Mohamoud Ibrahim Hassan stated that the project will offer traders a safer and more organized trading environment. It will also improve access to markets for agricultural produce and create opportunities for young people. Hassan highlighted that the ICT room will enable young people to access information and services, while the cold storage facility will assist traders in preserving fresh and perishable produce. Landscaping works are currently ongoing as the project nears completion.
Hassan mentioned that more than 200 traders will have the opportunity to secure stalls in the modern market. The stalls will protect traders from rain, sun, and strong winds, while their products will be better protected, providing customers with a more comfortable environment to shop. Chairman of Chesinende Farmers’ Cooperative Society, Joseph Choge, emphasized that the modern market would improve trading conditions, particularly for women who have faced challenges in operating in difficult environments.
Choge expressed gratitude towards the government for constructing the market but raised concerns over inadequate parking space, as the market occupies about half an acre. He appealed to the national government to consider acquiring additional land to provide sufficient parking for traders and customers.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture has supported 50 women traders along the Nakuru-Kericho highway with stalls known as Mama Shops. These shops provide safer and more organized spaces for selling fresh produce and other goods. The Mama Shops are branded, spacious, and each beneficiary has an individual stall with ample room to display and sell produce. Located a safe distance from the busy highway, the shops allow traders to benefit from passing customers while reducing exposure to roadside trading risks.
Jennifer Chebkorir, a beneficiary of the Mama Shop, expressed her appreciation for the government’s support, noting that the initiative has provided women with a safer environment to conduct their businesses. The Mama Shops will complement the Chesinende ESP Modern Market by offering additional opportunities for small-scale traders and improving access to fresh agricultural produce for residents, motorists, and other customers using the Nakuru-Kericho highway.
