Traders in Malaba municipality in Busia County will benefit from a 50 million integrated modern market constructed at the Amagoro trading center under the Market Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP).

Speaking during the handing over of the construction site to the contractor, Amagoro Assistant County Commissioner Titus Kiptoo said the market is intended to use trade links due to its proximity to the border, targeting small-scale traders.

The 60 by 20m market will have an ultra-modern single floor each, with 200 stalls to accommodate a similar number of traders. The ground floor will mainly consist of smart stalls to provide display space, storage, and security of their wares, cold rooms, and administrative offices.

The first floor will accommodate a revenue office, ICT hub, social hall, food court, and an ATM lobby.

Further, it will have an offsite ablution block accommodating ladies, gents, and PWDs will be provided as part of the facility.

The market will equally have unique facilities such as cold rooms for preserving fresh products with sanitation and water supply taken care of by 5,000 litres UPVC roof tank and 30, 000 litres steel tank fully equipped with booster pumps.

ACC Kiptoo assured residents that the contractor James Muriuki of Contralink Contractors has given assurance that he will employ people from the area instead of outsourcing them.

Kiptoo urged the residents of Teso to embrace agribusiness for sustainability of the market and avoid overdependence on importations from Uganda.

“As the government strive to complete this market in a record time, let us embrace agribusiness and utilize the market for our own economic empowerment,” noted ACC Kiptoo.