Governor Njuki Flags Off Construction of Sh70 Million Cheera Modern Market, Orders Safe Relocation of Traders
He explained that the facility is meant to provide a place for organized trading, ensure safety, and an enabling environment for the growth of business.
Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki. Photo/Courtesy
By Ruth Sang
Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki has formally launched the construction of Sh70 million Cheera Modern Market and ordered that all traders be safely relocated to an approved temporary site to pave the way for smooth project implementation. This was during the relocation and site handover ceremony at Cheera Market in Mugwe Ward, where the Governor emphasized the need to ensure that business is uninterrupted even as development proceeds.
Addressing traders and locals, the Governor hailed the partnership of the National Government with the Tharaka Nithi County Government, stating that this is how meaningful infrastructure that promotes trade and uplifts the livelihoods of communities is delivered. He said that this Cheera Market project was among the key strategic investments aimed at widening economic opportunities for small-scale traders throughout the region.
The Governor appreciated the support of the Kenya Kwanza administration, adding that although the market will be funded and guided at the national level during the building stage, its management will still be retained by the government. He reiterated that public participation is the foundation of the project and that the community members have been involved in planning and making decisions regarding the project.
“There can be no substantial development without the input of the very people it intends to serve,” said Njuki, noting that the state of the former market was no longer adequate for growing commercial needs. He added that an alternative site has already been prepared for the traders to operate from once construction for the modern, permanent facility commences.
In a bid to foster discipline and structured commerce, the Governor also announced that bars and entertainment joints would not be allowed to operate inside the new market once complete. He explained that the facility is meant to provide a place for organized trading, ensure safety, and an enabling environment for the growth of business.
Meanwhile, Patrick Mwangi, the Regional Director at the State Department for Housing and Urban Development, affirmed that the Cheera Modern Market will be constructed at a cost of Sh70 million, expected to be completed in nine months. He assured that the contractor had pledged to deliver the work on time and ensure that construction is done according to the set standards.
Mwangi further reiterated that local labor and suppliers should be actively sought throughout the project. He appealed to contractors to give jobs to people from Tharaka Nithi County for their operations and try to get construction materials from local retailers whenever possible. Upon completion, Cheera Modern Market is expected to revolutionize the status quo of trading in Mugwe Ward by presenting traders with a safe, orderly and effective place to conduct business. The facility is likely to boost economic activities, enhance hygiene at the market and promote small businesses, eventually contributing to wider economic growth in Tharaka Nithi County.
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