NAIROBI, Kenya- President William Ruto has officially handed over the newly constructed Diani Market in Kwale County, saying the project is part of the government’s broader plan to empower small-scale traders and improve local economies.
Speaking during the handover ceremony in Diani, Ruto said the modern market would provide traders with a safer and more dignified working environment while boosting business activities in the coastal region.
The President noted that the government was investing heavily in modern market infrastructure across the country to support small and medium-sized enterprises, which he described as the backbone of Kenya’s economy.
Ruto said thousands of traders had for years operated in difficult conditions without proper sanitation, storage facilities or organised trading spaces.
“This market is about dignity for our traders, creating jobs and improving livelihoods,” the President said during the event.
The Diani Market is expected to benefit hundreds of traders dealing in fresh produce, fish, clothing and other goods in the tourism-rich coastal town.
Local leaders who attended the event welcomed the project, saying it would help streamline business operations and attract more customers to the area.
The market is also expected to strengthen the local economy by creating indirect employment opportunities in transport, logistics and food supply chains.
Ruto reiterated that his administration was prioritising projects aimed at uplifting ordinary Kenyans through the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
The Head of State further assured traders that the government would continue rolling out infrastructure projects designed to support biashara ndogo ndogo operators across counties.
The Diani Market handover comes amid ongoing government efforts to modernise public markets and create organised trading spaces in urban and rural centres.
Kwale County leaders praised the project as a major milestone for local traders who had long struggled with congestion and inadequate facilities.
Ruto has in recent months commissioned and handed over several markets across the country as part of the government’s plan to expand economic opportunities for small traders and informal sector businesses.
