Lucy Maingi, a Building and Construction graduate from Nyeri Technical, has joined the Nyeri Modern Market construction site as a casual worker. She arrived at the site with a desire to put her classroom knowledge to use. Maingi says working alongside construction teams has enabled her to put her training into practice while learning new techniques. She has had the chance to handle tools, lay stones, and observe plastering up close, skills that extend well beyond what her formal training covered.
The Nyeri Modern Market project in Rware Ward currently employs between 35 and 45 workers daily, ranging from masons to electricians. Inspector of Works Rex Shiano says the project maintains an average of 35 to 45 workers on site each day, drawn from the surrounding area. The workforce includes plumbers, electricians, masons, carpenters, and casual workers, with women among those actively engaged.
Maingi's story reflects a broader pattern at the site, where many young people have been employed and are earning a wage while gaining practical skills. She says that she now encourages other young people to seek out opportunities where they can work and build practical skills at the same time. For Maingi, the work has delivered both a wage and hands-on experience that she says has shifted her perspective on construction.
The development itself is a substantial undertaking, with construction currently at 70% physical progress. Shiano notes that the project required significant time during the early stages after excavations revealed that the site sat atop a former dumping area, necessitating mass excavation of more than 10 metres. Substructure and superstructure works are now largely complete, with walling and finishing works currently underway.
When finished, the facility is designed to accommodate around 750 traders. It will include dedicated sections for fruits and vegetables, clothes and shoes, and household goods, alongside cold stores, bulk stores, an ICT hub, a social hall, M-Pesa shops, a children's play area, and waste management facilities. The new facility is intended to give traders a purpose-built, organised trading environment and to absorb traders currently operating from the bus terminal.
The existing market currently operates largely from a parking lot, leaving traders exposed to vehicles and dust. Shiano noted that the new market will provide a better environment for traders. For Maingi, the broader vision of the project matters less than the immediate reality: a job that pays and teaches at the same time. She says that is precisely the kind of opportunity more young Kenyans should be pursuing.
Maingi's experience is a testament to the importance of hands-on experience in the construction industry. Her story highlights the value of on-the-job training and the opportunities available to young people in the sector. As the Nyeri Modern Market project nears completion, it is expected to provide a boost to the local economy and create new opportunities for traders and businesses.
Key points
- Lucy Maingi, a Nyeri Technical graduate, has landed a construction job at the Nyeri Modern Market site, gaining practical skills and a wage.
- The Nyeri Modern Market project employs between 35 and 45 workers daily, with women among those actively engaged.
- The new market will provide a purpose-built, organised trading environment for around 750 traders, with dedicated sections for various goods and services.
