NAIROBI,Kenya– The construction of the Mwatunge ESP Market in Mwatate is almost complete, marking a major step toward strengthening rural trade and economic growth in Taita-Taveta County.
According to Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, the market project launched in February 2024 is now 96% complete.
Key infrastructure components including the main market block, an ICT hub, children’s play area, public sanitation facilities, and waste disposal units have all been finalized.
Omollo revealed that what remains is the final phase of landscaping and perimeter fencing to enhance both security and the overall appearance of the site.
“This market is part of a broader network of ESP (Economic Stimulus Programme) markets being developed across the country under President William Ruto’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA),” said Omollo.
According to the government,the Mwatunge market has been designed not only as a commercial space but also as a clean, safe and organized trading environment that supports small and medium-sized enterprises.
It aims to provide local vendors and buyers with a structured setting that promotes fair trade and public health.
Once operational, the facility is expected to be a game-changer for the region’s economy creating jobs, opening new markets for farmers and traders, and enhancing value addition along agricultural supply chains.
Government contends that the strategic location of the market along the corridor connecting inland counties to the coastal region will attract tourism-linked trade, acting as a rest point and commercial hub for travelers heading to or from the Coast.
The Mwatunge ESP Market is part of ongoing national efforts to stimulate grassroots economies and uplift rural livelihoods through infrastructure-led development.
