President William Ruto and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja will commission the market in three weeks time after after five years of waiting.
“Traders operating at the parking lot outside the market have been enumerated and will also be accommodated within the building,” Sakaja said.
The new Sh800 million market was set up to accommodate traders who were displaced by road expansion projects on Kangundo Road, Mtindwa and the dualling of Outering road.
Traders from Marikiti market in the city centre will also be allocated space at the new market.
Speaking when he toured the market on Wednesday, the Governor said the few disputes on allocation of stalls will have been resolved prior to the launch.
“Immediately after the opening ceremony, stall owners will elect their officials who will be responsible for the management of the market, including running the amenities like toilets and parking,” he said.
In July last year, the Kenya Urban Raods Authority (Kura) announced that 943 traders displaced during the 13km dualling of Outering Road would be relocated to the market.
Govt issues notice for allocation of stalls in the New Wakulima Market along Kangundo Road
Kura director general Silas Kinoti said another 490 spaces had not yet been allocated at the market and called on interested persons to apply at the deputy county commissioner’s office in Njiru subcounty at no charge.
Forty-nine stalls had been set aside for Persons Living with Disabilities.
Other areas will be allocated 30 per cent of the remaining spaces.
Mowlem ward has, for instance, been allocated 147 stalls stalls through the criteria which will be applied to all the other wards.
Sakaja further revealed that the market will also accommodate offices of the area MCA (Mowlem) and Ward Administrator.
The governor was accompanied on the inspection tour by Deputy Governor Njoroge Muchiri, Embakassi Central MP Mark Githiru, Embakassi West MP Mark Mwenje and Mowlem Ward MCA Martin Wairobi.
Construction of the market started in July 2017 funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB).
The market will help decongest county markets and increase access to quality, affordable and sustainable food.
The double-storied market has 158 stalls, 12 shops, 36 shutters on ground floor and additional shutters more on the first floor.
Glad that we’ve unlocked the bottlenecks that have kept the New Wakulima market from operating since completion months ago. The New Wakulima Market will provide opportunities for our traders to operate in a vibrant and orderly manner. #LetsMakeNairobiWork pic.twitter.com/fng0t6OPya
— Sakaja Arthur Johnson (@SakajaJohnson) October 5, 2022
It also contains abolition and shower blocks on each floor as well as external washrooms, four 10,000-litre water storage tanks and two 900,000 litre underground water tanks.
Concerns had been raised about alleged bribery to reserve market spaces.
Last year in March, retired President Uhuru Kenyatta warned Nairobi politicians against inciting traders to illegally occupy the five new city markets.
The Sh2.2 billion markets include the Sh389 million Mwariro in Starehe, Sh214 million Westlands, Sh493 million Gikomba, Sh294 million Karandini in Dagoretti and the Sh800 million new Wakulima.
Uhuru said traders who had previously occupied the markets will be given first priority once they are commissioned.
He said once the original traders are allocated spaces, the remaining slots would be distributed through an open ballot supervised by government officials.
Balloting for four out of the five markets started in August 2020.
