- Traders can now apply for spaces in five new Uasin Gishu markets.
- Applications close on September 14, with allocation subject to eligibility.
- The markets aim to provide safer and more organised trading spaces.
The Uasin Gishu County Government has opened applications for traders seeking spaces in five markets, as part of efforts to provide more structured and formal trading facilities in the county.
The Department of Trade, Investment, Industrialisation, Tourism, Cooperatives and Enterprise Development has invited eligible traders to apply for spaces at the 64 Iconic, Kapseret, Ainabkoi, Kesses and Matharu Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) markets.
How to apply
According to a public notice issued by the department, the spaces will be allocated to traders who meet the requirements and intend to conduct lawful businesses within the markets.
Applicants must be legally eligible to operate a business in the respective market and comply with applicable market rules, regulations and county by-laws.
Applications can be submitted online through a Google Form. Traders can also seek assistance from ward administrators’ offices or the respective market offices.
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Once registered, applicants are required to print their completed forms from the email address used during registration. They must then attach the necessary supporting documents before submitting them to the Directorate of Trade at KVDA 12th Floor, or through the relevant ward offices.
The deadline for submission is Monday, September 14, 2026, at 5pm.
However, the county has cautioned that applying does not guarantee a space. “Applicants are advised that submission of an application does not guarantee allocation of a market space. Successful applicants will be notified by publishing the names at the market noticeboard,” the notice reads.
Part of a wider market overhaul
The opening of the spaces comes against the backdrop of a broader government programme to replace congested and informal trading areas with safer and more organised markets.
The ESP market programme was first introduced as part of the government’s economic response following the 2007/2008 global financial crisis, and has since been incorporated into the government’s wider development agenda.
Under the current Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), the government has been expanding its market development programme to support traders, farmers and other small businesses at the grassroots. The programme targets more than 400 modern markets across the country.
The State Department for Housing and Urban Development has been involved in developing ESP markets and supporting facilities in counties, with county governments playing a key role in providing land and managing the completed facilities.
Government documents show that the markets are intended to improve trading conditions, increase incomes and create employment opportunities.
Modern facilities, better conditions
Unlike traditional open-air markets, the newer facilities are designed to provide organised spaces where traders can operate in a more secure and dignified environment.
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Government descriptions of completed and planned markets include facilities such as cold storage rooms, ablution blocks, lactation rooms and daycare areas, alongside trading and storage spaces.
The facilities are also intended to strengthen local value chains by giving farmers and traders improved access to organised markets.
Cold storage, for instance, can help preserve perishable produce and reduce losses, while better organised trading areas can make it easier for customers and suppliers to transact.
For Uasin Gishu traders, the latest notice provides an opportunity to secure space in the five designated markets, subject to meeting the county’s requirements and passing the allocation process.
The county has directed applicants seeking further information to contact the Trade Department through trade@uasingishu.go.ke.
By Benedict Aoya
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