Outrage as new Ndaragwa market is built next to two abandoned ones

One of the unused markets was built during the term of the first Nyandarua governor, Daniel Waithaka, at a cost of around Sh15 million.

The second was funded by the World Bank through the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) programme.

Now, the national government has embarked on constructing a third market at a staggering cost of Sh65 million.

“Why build a third market in such a small town with two unoccupied markets? There are far more pressing issues. For example, chiefs and assistant chiefs, such as those in Muthiga and Nyakinyua, operate without offices. At Nyakinyua, landlords have evicted the assistant chief from a small rented space multiple times, forcing residents to fundraise to keep the administrator accommodated,” said Jackson Kahani, a resident.

He added that some classrooms at Nyakinyua Primary School are dilapidated and at risk of collapse, and that Ndaragwa town has no tarmac roads, drainage or public sanitation infrastructure.

Residents have described the new market as a "misplaced priority".

“No proper public participation was carried out before construction began. Why didn’t the government consult locals first? We would have told them that another market is not needed,” Peter Maina said on Monday.

Last week, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, accompanied by local leaders, including Ndaragwa MP George Gachagua, inspected the construction of the Sh65 million market in Ndaragwa town.

“This trend of rewarding loyal politicians with development projects without involving county governments or the community is leading to misplaced priorities. The government should have focused on operationalising the existing markets. That money could have addressed real needs,” said Ruth Kaberii, a resident.

“We expected the Deputy President to launch the old market, not inspect the new one. Why are they duplicating efforts and wasting public funds?”

Many say that the tragedy is not only the duplication of facilities, but also the consequences, as the town has now lost its only playground due to the construction of the new market.

Faith Nyakinyua, a local trader, said that the money should have been used to improve the town, which lacks basic amenities such as drainage, water, public toilets, and a waste disposal site.

“This is the result of excluding locals and the county government from the planning process. We didn’t need another market. The other two markets have been converted into dens for criminals due to years of abandonment,” she said.

She blamed the tension between the national and county governments, particularly with regard to devolved functions, for leading to the waste of resources.

The IFAD-funded market, completed in 2011, has fallen into disrepair after years of neglect.

However, Mwangi Kagwe, the Ndaragwa Central Ward Representative, defended the decision to build the third market.

“During a meeting with President William Ruto, he told me the government was building over 400 modern markets across the country under the Kenya Kwanza Bottom-Up Economic model. He asked if we needed one and I told him we already had two, and that the funds would be better spent upgrading Ndaragwa town. But the President said the funds were already budgeted for and couldn’t be reallocated. It was either we take the market or lose the funding altogether,” said Kagwe.

He added that he had consulted with local opinion leaders, traders, and residents, who had decided against rejecting the project outright.

The MCA further explained that the market was initially meant to be built at Nyonjoro Centre, but that no public land was available there.

“We came back to Ndaragwa town, but the available public land was too small for a Sh65 million wholesale market. A public participation forum approved the construction at the stadium, adjacent to the retail market. We are now working to have land near the Deputy County Commissioner’s office allocated for a new stadium. I support the market,” he said.

Regarding the abandoned second market, the MCA cited a standoff between the national government and the contractor, who was accused of inflating construction costs.

“The DP was informed about the dispute and he promised to intervene. The contractor refused to hand over the market to the county government, claiming outstanding payments. Until the matter is resolved, the county cannot take over the facility,” he said.

During his visit last week, Prof Kindiki assured residents that the new market would be operational and handed over to the county government by September.

“Either the President or I, or both of us, will be back in September to officially open the market. The contractor already has the funds and has committed to finishing the job by August,” he said.

Prof Kindiki added that the market would include ICT labs for young people, areas for breastfeeding, offices, a boardroom and a cold room.

He urged young people to use the ICT hubs productively, particularly to access online job opportunities, and not to misuse the facilities.

Prof Kindiki also granted the local MP's request for a two-kilometre road, promising to lobby for additional funds.

However, the decision to construct another market adjacent to two existing, unused ones has left many residents puzzled. The Ndaragwa Central Business District spans approximately five acres, nearly half of which is now occupied by unused markets.

Locals blame political turf wars between the county government and politicians aligned with the Kenya Kwanza administration for the duplication of projects, which they view as wasteful. They argue that, with genuine public participation, the funds could have been channelled into more urgent and impactful developments.

[email protected]