Garissa Farmers Demand Better Market Facilities

Traders and livestock farmers at Garissa’s Soko Ng’ombe market have urged the government to enhance social amenities. They have also requested the provision of on-site veterinary services for farmers, particularly during the current drought period. Led by market chairperson Mohamed Nuno, the traders expressed concerns that the government has overlooked the market, resulting in a lack of clean toilets, inadequate water supply, and insufficient stalls for fodder traders. During a meeting with officials from the state department of livestock and the state department for housing, the traders shared their perspectives. The officials were gathering input on developing a model market that could be implemented in other counties nationwide. We lack clean toilets despite this being one of the largest livestock markets in the nation. We also require shaded areas and a perimeter wall surrounding this market, Nuno stated. The Garissa livestock market stands as one of the largest in the country and across the East African region, serving farmers and businesspeople from all northeastern counties, Tana River, Kitui, and other regions of the nation. The Soko Ng’ombe market draws businesspeople and farmers from throughout the country, functioning as a major center for trading cattle, camels, goats, and sheep. Addressing the meeting, Kingwal Mwaluko, director for designs at the State Department for Housing, mentioned that all received viewpoints would be considered in developing the Garissa livestock market model, expected to be finalized within the next two months. Mwaluko additionally disclosed that the Garissa market model would be implemented in other counties, emphasizing the government’s commitment to programs benefiting ordinary citizens through the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). We have visited this market with our consultants to examine it and listen to stakeholder perspectives, enabling us to design a livestock yard model that can be replicated in multiple counties, Mwaluko explained. Through ongoing consultations with other stakeholders, it was determined that construction of these markets must commence this year. We are finalizing the livestock yard design, and if construction begins in March, the market should be completed by December of this year, he added. Stephen Mutuku, a livestock development officer at the State Department for Livestock, stated that modernizing the Garissa livestock market enhances the livelihood of regional residents, who are predominantly pastoralists dependent on livestock. Our purpose here is to understand the market’s current condition, operations, benefits to people, and challenges, allowing us to develop strategies for improving it and other markets in ASAL counties, Mutuku said.