NAIROBI, Kenya—The upcoming Diani Modern Market in Mvindeni, Kwale County, will host ICT hubs as part of its mission to promote digital inclusion and grassroots economic transformation.
The facility, now 85% complete, is one of the flagship projects under the government’s digitization agenda aimed at empowering local communities, particularly women and youth.
Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo said the market is already providing employment to 60 workers and will serve as a transformative hub for both trade and community development once operational.
“It will feature cold storage facilities to reduce post-harvest losses, ICT hubs to foster digital inclusion, a well-equipped mothers’ room, a vibrant food court and a 200-seater social hall for community engagements,” said Omollo.
The Diani Modern Market will host up to 500 traders and include 219 modern stalls, including smart stalls specifically designed for fresh produce vendors.
Additional spaces will accommodate a variety of other businesses in a dignified and structured environment.
According to Omollo, the market is expected to inject new life into the coastal economy while serving as a platform for innovation, social interaction, and community empowerment in line with national development goals.
The Diani initiative is part of a broader government strategy to modernize markets across the country.
Other key projects include the Sh 700 million Nakuru Municipal Market and Bus Park, the Sh70 million Taveta Town Market in Taita Taveta, and the Sh56 million Timau Market serving the Laikipia-Meru region.
In Siaya, construction of an integrated modern market valued at over Sh800 million is underway, while Ngiya Market has already opened to the public.
Migori County has seen improvements through the Kenya Urban Support Programme (KUSP), with new markets established in Oyora, Ombo, and Kakrao.
In Kiambu, the government has committed Sh13 billion to develop five large metropolitan markets and 20 prototype facilities, including those in Madaraka (Thika), Githunguri, Wangige, Kangangi, and Ruiru Phase 2.
