By Fridah Mbuvi, June 11, 2026
The government has packaged 476 modern markets across the country, with construction already underway on 354 facilities, National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has announced.
Speaking while presenting the 2026/27 Budget in Parliament on Thursday, Mbadi said the initiative is aimed at transforming trade infrastructure and providing millions of small-scale traders with clean, secure and dignified spaces to conduct business.
According to the Treasury Cabinet Secretary, the remaining 122 markets are at advanced stages of planning and procurement.
The markets, spread across the 47 counties, are being equipped with modern amenities including clean water systems, improved sanitation facilities, solar-powered lighting, cold storage units for perishable products and day-care centres to support traders with young children.
Mbadi said the project is intended to reduce post-harvest losses among agricultural traders, improve security and enhance productivity among micro and small enterprises.
He noted that the programme forms part of the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and is anchored in the KSh4.84 trillion budget for the 2026/27 financial year.
To complement the infrastructure investment, the government will continue supporting financial inclusion initiatives such as the Hustler Fund to enable traders and small businesses operating within the new markets to access affordable credit.
The Treasury believes the combination of modern trading spaces and expanded access to financing will strengthen grassroots entrepreneurship, stimulate local economies and improve livelihoods across the country.
