Mitheru: Members of the Mwendantu Fruit Vendors Women Group in Mitheru market have received a major boost after Tharaka Nithi Woman Representative Susan Ngugi donated 28 outdoor umbrellas to help protect their fruits from harsh weather conditions.
According to Kenya News Agency, for years, the vendors had appealed to leaders and well-wishers for assistance in vain, saying the scorching and heavy rains resulted in their fruits going bad faster, translating into heavy losses. The group had been shielding their merchandise using old sacks or keeping them under tree branches for shade.
Speaking during the donation, Ngugi said the county government should invest more in supporting fruit farmers and vendors by creating reliable markets and reducing their dependence on brokers, who often exploit both farmers and traders. She noted that the county’s Sh7 billion budget should also prioritise the needs of fruit farmers, including the provision of cold storage facilities to preserve perishable produce, reduce post-harvest losses, and increase farmers’ incomes while boosting county revenue.
‘I have donated 28 outdoor umbrellas through the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), which supports community group initiatives. Going forward, I will work towards helping the Mwendantu Fruit Vendors Women Group establish a value-addition factory to produce fruit juices, jams, and dried fruits, enabling them to expand their business and increase their earnings,’ she said.
The group’s Acting Chairperson, Jennifer Karambu, welcomed the donation, saying the umbrellas will provide shade, protect the fruits from direct sunlight and rain, and help maintain their freshness for longer. ‘For many years, we have incurred heavy losses because our fruits spoilt quickly. These umbrellas will help us preserve the quality of our produce and serve our customers better,’ she said.
A member of the group, Pamela Kaari, said the market’s location along the busy Meru-Nairobi highway offers great business potential, but poor fruit preservation has driven away many customers. ‘Many customers would buy fruits here, but by the time they reached home, the fruits had deteriorated because of the heat. Some never came back to buy from us again. We have lost many customers over the years, but today our story has changed,’ she said.
