County Partners With Private Sector for Nairobi Market Upgrades

Nairobi City County has teamed up with private sector partners to modernise its market infrastructure, with plans to construct five state‑of‑the‑art markets across key wards. The initiative, driven by the County’s Business & Hustler Opportunities Sector, targets markets in Karen, Jujo/Mihang’o, Kahawa West, Mutuini, and Riruta. The goal is to provide better facilities for traders — including lighting, water, security, and digital payment infrastructure.Under the partnership, the markets will be built with modern amenities such as structured stalls, washrooms, cold rooms, underground water storage, and waste‑management facilities. By pooling resources, the county and private developers aim to make trading safer, more efficient, and more dignified, especially for informal traders who currently operate in cramped or dilapidated spaces.The county has also committed to ensuring digital payments are enabled within these markets, streamlining revenue collection and business operations. Market traders and business associations have welcomed the upgrade. Many view the modernisation plan as long overdue and a critical step toward formalising the informal economy. They highlight that improved infrastructure will not only boost trader morale but also attract more customers and investors into market trade. Analysts say the move aligns with broader efforts to harness Nairobi’s informal trading economy — one of the county’s most dynamic and under‑utilised economic assets.
Looking ahead, the county expects the new markets to be completed within the next few years and anticipates scaling up the model across all sub‑counties. By 2027, Nairobi aims to have delivered 20 modern markets — a pledge made by Governor Johnson Sakaja that reflects a long-term commitment to trade, inclusivity, and economic growth.