Kenya has commenced construction of a US $2.2m fish market in Nakuru County. Nakuru County government commissioned the project which is set to revolutionize fish trading business in the region.
The million dollar fish market project was realized through a partnership with the Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC) and The Rockefeller Foundation through its Food Initiative Programme in the country. It will be located in Karai area in Naivasha along the busy Nairobi –Nakuru highway.
Students from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) have designed the fish market to be a smart market and Covid -19 compliant in terms of spacing, sanitation and hygiene taken into account. It will be be solar powered and will offer smart solutions services including systems digitization, E-mobility solutions E- waste management, and products such as electric motorcycles and charging ports.
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The solar energy will power the cold storage facilities which will help preserve the fish and other produce at the market to reduce wastage. The cold rooms will also aid to fight diseases that are usually caused by improper storage of fish and other foods.
Phase one of the project is set to accommodate 100 traders with the number of traders set to increase to 300 when the market will be fully operationalized by next year. The phase will cost US $ 731,000 and will be completed by December.
According to Governor Lee Kinyanjui the market once operationalized will be a game changer in the fish industry business and will be a major economic driver to the county’s growth potential and that of the entire region.
“This market will revolutionize the fish trading business because it will be one-stop shop that meets all customer needs,” said Kinyanjui.
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