Evans Kidero's team gets thumbs up for sprucing City Market

The new-look City Market that has been repainted and had various repair works undertaken to make it a conducive place to trade and shop. [PHOTO: MOSES OMUSULA/STANDARD]

Nairobi, Kenya: The 24-hour Nairobi City Market is the oldest market in the central business district and its 143 rental stalls house groceries, flowers, curios, food and fruit vendors and butcheries.

There is a wide variety of meat products from beef, pork, mutton, chicken and fish. The florists have well stocked stalls with flowers fit for all occasions and a grocery section with fresh produce for the consumer's consumption.

The vibandas (stalls) at the market were built in 1930 and are famous for their sumptuous meals, sold at affordable prices and the curio stalls which are a must see for the locals and tourists alike.

Unfortunately, this market has in the past been associated with unhygienic conditions and would reek of stale fish, meat and uncollected garbage.

This is, however, a thing of the past thanks to concerted efforts by the county government. The change is so dramatic that a person who has been away from the market for a while would think they are in the wrong place.

GOOD JOB

"The county is doing a good job. They have painted the market which makes it look very presentable and they wash it every morning. It feels good to work in a clean environment," said Lilian Nzisa, a curio vendor at the market.

Dorothy Akinyi, a fish vendor, shared Nzisa's sentiment's on the state of the market.

"The butchery section is cleaned twice a day, in the morning and the evening. This ensures that the area remains clean and is attracting more clients," he said.

The shoppers are also full of praise for the new improved market.

"In the past, I used to come here, pick what I want and leave. But nowadays, I can window shop first, compare products and pick the best," said Anita Wambui, a client at the meat and chicken section.

"The floors are so clean that am not worried about my maxi dress getting dirty. I can also move around freely. It used to be so dirty, that I would think twice before buying chicken, beef or fish here," said Angela Wafula, another customer at the market.

Trade Executive Anna Othoro said the county government is doing an upgrade of markets and the City Market is among the first ones to benefit.

The executive said the journey to renovate and upgrade the market has not been easy with the market's traders association suing the county over the renovation plans.

RUMOURS SPREAD

Ms Othoro said traders had been spreading rumours that the county was going to chase them from the market and they even wrote to the National Museum of Kenya, to help stop the renovation.

They thought the county was going to knock down the facility which is gazetted as a monument.

"We talked and explained to their chairman that our renovation plans did not include knocking down the monument but rather painting it, fixing the roof and working on the drainage," she said.

Othoro said the market now has a monthly clean up day when it is closed as county workers and traders join hands to thoroughly clean the premises.