Traders Demand Priority in Allocation of Stalls at Sh373M Market in Bungoma

The new three-storey Soko Kubwa market in Bungoma, Kenya, is nearing completion and is expected to accommodate between 3,000 and 4,000 traders. The facility, which has cost Sh373 million, aims to replace congested street vending and provide an organised trading environment. The market includes modern trading stalls, banking and revenue offices, cold-storage units, an information and communications technology hub, a dedicated food court, sanitation blocks, a baby-care and breastfeeding room, as well as parking areas.

Traders who operated at the site before construction began are demanding priority in the allocation of business spaces. They argue that they have been documented and should be given first consideration. Victor Nalianya, a small-scale trader, said the government should rely on existing records to identify and prioritise those who operated at the site before construction.

A stakeholders' engagement forum was held at the Bungoma County Commissioner's Hall, attended by officials from the National Government Coordination Secretariat, National Government Administrative Officers, and members of the public. The meeting followed a field verification exercise that inspected 10 government-funded projects across Bungoma County.

The inspection team, led by Senior Counsel Dan Meo, took note of the traders' concerns and agreed with the recommendation that previous occupants should be prioritised during the allocation of stalls. Meo said the government had identified 51 high-impact projects across the country, 15 of them in Bungoma, which were being monitored through physical inspections and a national project-tracking system.

The project's implementation has faced challenges, including sourcing adequate supplies of quality ballast and sand. The inspection team was informed that more than 20 projects in Bungoma were competing for supplies from the same quarry sources in Nzoia and Turbo, putting pressure on the availability of construction materials.

The government is addressing challenges facing contractors, including inadequate capacity, delayed payments, and difficulties accessing construction materials. A borehole is being drilled at the market to address water shortages, while fire hydrants have been installed as part of measures to improve safety.

The project is 68 per cent complete, according to Housing Director Pascal Oulo, who said the contractor had failed to meet the original completion deadline but had committed to handing over the facility by March next year.

Key points

• The new market aims to provide an organised trading environment for 3,000 to 4,000 traders.
• Traders are demanding priority in the allocation of business spaces.
• The project has faced challenges, including sourcing construction materials and delayed payments to contractors.