Reprieve as standoff over 'Mama Shop' container at Chepseon market resolved

Agriculture and Livestock Development Principal Secretary Paul Rono. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

The Ministry of Agriculture and the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) have resolved an impasse surrounding the installation of shipping containers converted into grocery shops along the Kericho-Nakuru highway at Chepseon Market in Kipkelion East.

The dispute had arisen over concerns that the containers, dubbed “Mama Shops,” might encroach on the road reserve.

However, following an inspection of the site, Agriculture Principal Secretary Paul Rono confirmed that the area earmarked for the project lies outside the KeNHA beacons.

Speaking after the inspection, Rono said the ministry is putting up 50 shipping container shops at the market, noting that the design of the structures makes them suitable even in areas near major highways.

“Even then, the beauty of these shopping containers is that they are movable. If in the future the Ministry of Roads requires more space for road expansion, they can easily be relocated because they are mobile,” he said.

The Principal Secretary explained that the Mama Shops concept was introduced to improve the working conditions of small-scale grocery and farm input traders, most of whom have for years operated by the roadside under harsh weather.

“The traders, who are mostly women, have been selling groceries by the roadside, under the sun and rain. That is why we came up with the Mama Shop container concept to allow them to sell their wares in a better, modern environment and off the road,” Rono said.

He added that the program will be rolled out to other trading centres, revealing that similar container shops will be installed at Londiani Road Junction and in other markets across Kericho County and the rest of the country.

Jane Chepkwony, a roadside grocery seller in Chepseon, described the Mama Shops as a long-awaited relief.

“We thank the Ministry of Agriculture through the Principal Secretary for coming up with this shipping container shop concept. We have suffered for many years, especially being rained on as we try to sell our groceries,” she said.

Another trader, Joyline Chebet, urged the ministry to ensure fairness in the allocation of the shops, saying priority should be given to genuine roadside vendors.

Maurene Chepkurui, while welcoming the project, appealed to the ministry to set affordable rent for the container shops to avoid locking out small-scale traders.

The resolution between the Ministry of Agriculture and KeNHA now clears the way for the full implementation of the Mama Shops project at Chepseon Market, a move expected to enhance safety, order and dignity for roadside traders along the busy Kericho–Nakuru highway.