Trans Nzoia County Governor George Natembeya has launched the construction of what will be the biggest market in Trans Nzoia County.
Speaking during the ground-breaking ceremony of the new market within Kitale town, Natembeya said his vision is to ensure Kitale town operates 24 hours a day, nonstop.
The market, which will be on a two-and-a-half-acre piece of land, will be the biggest in Trans Nzoia County.
Natembeya said all the other markets, including Masinde Muliro, Bondeni, and the new one, will be specialized in terms of goods in order for them to remain active.
He urged the traders that were moved from the Kitale-Suam highway that they will be given first priority during the allocations of business stalls and that he will consult with the contractor to absorb those with labor skills locally for the construction of the new market that will be completed in a span of six months.
He further stated that Masinde Muliro Market will be allocated to genuine business people, saying it was wrong and risky to settle business people in a building whose construction was still ongoing.
“Those who are used to rushing to court just go, and we will follow you there. We have individuals who took many stalls in the name of business people. Some leaders have hidden agendas; that’s why they ran to award themselves incomplete stalls instead of awarding the genuine ones,” Natembeya said.
The no-nonsense county premier also asked land grabbers within Kitale town to start paving the way for town expansions.
Natembeya said he is working with the National Government to kick out land grabbers so town expansion can take place.
“If you see me with barbed wire, follow me so that we fence the government land,” he said.
The governor further revealed that his administration, in collaboration with the National Government through the Ministry of Housing, will partner and construct houses with low rental costs to help the town grow.
Mike Musungu is a reporter at Radio Simba in Bungoma and a correspondent of Trans Nzoia County for the Western Kenya Times.
