For years, the sight of tens of youths hawking raw fish along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway has been the norm despite the public health crisis that they create. Many are the days that they have clashed with public health and security officers over the manner that they have been handling the perishable commodity. In a move to address this, Nakuru County government has moved in to construct a Sh239m smart fish market in Karai Naivasha making it the first of its kind in the country. The first phase of the market that is also supported by the Eastern Africa Grain Growers (EAGC) is expected to be completed by December this year. According to Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui, the market would offer other services including a vegetable market for tens of youths. He noted that for years youth involved in selling fish had suffered a lot adding that the modern facility would provide stalls to sell their products and cold stores. “We expect the first phase of the market to be ready by December this year and it will offer various services targeting motorists using the highway,” he said.
He termed the market as the next economic driver in the region adding that its location would attract tens of motorists using the highway. Speaking during the groundbreaking for the facility, Kinyanjui at the same time called for investigations into the deaths of five people who died after drinking second generation brew in Nakuru. “We are concerned over the resurgence of illicit brews in parts of the county and its time the concerned government agencies acted,” he said. The CEC for Trade in the county Raymond Komen said that the first phase which would cost Sh80m would be ready in five months. He said that plans for the market started in 2018 when the county embarked on the process of seeking land along the highway. “When complete this market will cost Sh239m and it will be the first of its kind in the country and will address all the needs of the traders,” he said. On his part, Gerald Masila from EAGC said that the smart market would be served by solar power with all the water harvested for use within the facility. “We shall introduce electronic motorcycles which will have a charging bay as part of this e-market which is supported by the county and EAGC,” he said.