President William Ruto set to open Diani modern market to the public after its completion

By Alloys Musyoka

Governor Fatuma Achani said that the project was completed after a partnership between the Kwale County Government and the National Government as part of broader efforts to upgrade market infrastructure and boost small-scale businesses in the area.

Speaking after the contractor handed over the market to the county government Achani said that the market is expected to accommodate more than 1,000 traders in a clean, secure, and well-organized setting.

The newly constructed Diani Modern Market features a range of facilities designed to support different business activities. These include 216 smart stalls for retail trade such as groceries and dry fish, eight restaurants, eateries, and cafés, and a wholesale section capable of accommodating more than 100 traders during morning trading hours. The market also has two toilet blocks, a borehole with running water, floodlights, and is fenced with a perimeter wall.

The market also has 65 stalls for services such as M-Pesa and butcheries, a fully equipped ICT room, and a market shade for mitumba traders. Additional amenities include a modern bus park and a mother’s room to support lactating mothers, making the market more inclusive and convenient for users.

“This modern market will provide a safe and organized trading environment for our traders while creating new economic opportunities for the people of Kwale. It reflects our commitment as a county government to improve livelihoods and support small businesses that form the backbone of our local economy,” she said.

Deputy Governor Chirema Kombo urged traders to take good care of the facility and maintain cleanliness to ensure the market serves the community for many years.

“We must protect this infrastructure because it belongs to the people of Kwale. Proper management and cooperation from traders will ensure the market remains a hub of economic activity,” he added.

Regional Lead from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, John Karanja, commended Kwale County for being the first county to receive the completed market under the program.

“If there is a good example I can give, it is Kwale, and because of this progress, two other counties are already planning to come here for benchmarking,” he said.

The Diani Market Project Committee chair, Mr. Sebastian Malombe, commended the county and national governments for successfully completing the project, saying it will significantly improve the working conditions for traders.

“For many years, traders in Diani have been operating in congested and informal spaces. This modern market will bring order, improve hygiene, and provide better opportunities for business growth,” he said.

So far, the county government has constructed over 50 markets across the county.