Street Lighting Boosts Trade and Security in Busia as County Moves Toward 24-Hour Economy
“The street lighting has come at the right time since we were trading in the dark,” Mercyline Namukuru, a fish and dairy vendor
A well-lit street in Busia County glows at night following the recent installation of street lights under a county initiative aimed at enhancing security and extending business hours in local markets.
Small-scale traders across Busia County are experiencing a boost in economic activity following the launch of a wide-scale street lighting initiative, aimed at extending business hours and improving security in markets and shopping centres.
The street lighting project, a collaboration between the County Government of Busia and the Kenya Power Company, has seen floodlights installed in numerous locations across all 35 wards. The initiative is part of the county’s broader strategy to stimulate a 24-hour economy.
Speaking at Mungatsi Market in Bukhayo East Ward, Mrs. Mercyline Namukuru, a fish and dairy vendor, praised the development as transformative.
“The street lighting has come at the right time since we were trading in the dark,” she said. “This project has added us extra hours. We can now operate comfortably until midnight and it has also helped guard against insecurity.”
Her sentiments were echoed by Mrs. Veronica Adhiambo, a dagaa (silver cyprinid) seller in Bumala. She noted that traders now benefit from two additional hours of operation each evening—a significant shift from the previous 7 p.m. closing time.
“We thank our Governor Otuoma and MCA Maina for lighting up Bumala. We urge them to now fast-track the construction of a new market to accommodate more traders,” said Adhiambo.
The enhanced lighting has also improved security, according to Mr. Geofrey Wesonga, a boda boda operator in Mungatsi.
“The project has significantly reduced insecurity in our area,” he said, adding that operators now feel safer working into the night.
While officially launching the street lighting program, Busia Governor Dr. Paul Otuoma encouraged residents to embrace the initiative as a tool for economic empowerment.
Busia Governor, Dr. Paul Nyongesa Otuoma.
“We want this power to be an economic stimulus, not some form of decoration,” Otuoma said. “I urge our traders to embrace extended shifts—either early in the morning or late into the evening—to make the most of this infrastructure.”
The governor also urged locals to safeguard the street lamps from vandalism and emphasized the importance of paying market levies to ensure the sustainability of the project.
“Residents must develop an entrepreneurial mindset to fully unlock the potential of power connectivity in markets and homes,” he added. “We are planning to expand and rehabilitate lighting in more sub-counties to cover all major trading centres.”
The lighting initiative is already showing results in previously high-risk areas, with traders reporting fewer incidents of theft and more vibrant evening market activity.
As the county continues to roll out infrastructure improvements, traders and residents alike are optimistic that such projects will drive economic growth and improve livelihoods across the region.
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