President William Ruto has announced an additional KSh300 million investment in a new market in West Pokot County to accommodate the growing number of traders, as construction of the KSh147 million Makutano Modern Market in Kapenguria approaches completion.
Ruto made the announcement after assessing construction progress at the Makutano Modern Market in Kapenguria Constituency, which is currently 69 per cent complete and scheduled for completion in December 2026.
The President said the government had established that the ongoing project would not provide sufficient space for the increasing number of traders, prompting plans to construct an additional market beginning in January 2027.
“Having established that the market will not be sufficient to accommodate the growing number of traders, we will provide an additional KSh300 million to build another market in January 2027,” Ruto said.
The planned investment is expected to expand market infrastructure in Kapenguria and provide additional trading space for businesses operating in the area. The government has not yet provided further details on the proposed second market, including its exact location, capacity or construction timeline beyond the planned January 2027 start.
The Makutano Modern Market project is valued at KSh147 million and is intended to improve trading facilities in Kapenguria Constituency.
With construction reported at 69 per cent, the project is scheduled for completion in December 2026. Once completed, the facility is expected to provide a modern trading environment for traders in the area.
The announcement of a second market indicates that the government anticipates demand for trading space will exceed the capacity of the ongoing project. The additional KSh300 million allocation would more than double the amount committed to the current market project, although the two investments are intended for separate facilities.
Markets play an important role in connecting farmers, traders, small businesses and consumers, while providing spaces for the sale of agricultural produce and other goods.
Expanding market capacity can create opportunities for traders to access customers and operate in organised facilities. The impact of the planned investment will depend on the final design, available trading spaces, infrastructure and management arrangements for the proposed market.
The government’s latest announcement places market infrastructure among the development projects being pursued in West Pokot County, with the ongoing Makutano project expected to be completed by the end of 2026 and construction of the additional facility planned to begin in January 2027.
The two projects are expected to increase the availability of trading space in Kapenguria as authorities respond to demand from the area’s growing trader population.
