Traders in Voi Town, Taita Taveta County have agreed to the decision by the county government to relocate them to the new 30 million shillings facility along the busy Mombasa-Nairobi highway.
This follows a deal reached between the traders and Governor Granton Samaboja who will further avail interest free loans to expand their businesses.
Two years after its completion, Voi market has remained unoccupied as those whom the facility was meant for resisted the initiative by the county government to relocate.
Their bone of contention has been the long distance of the market from the town centre of about 3kms, with the traders decrying the expected loss of clients.
Adjustment of the new location however to the busy Mombasa-Nairobi Highway has been tipped to open up new opportunities.
Governor Granton Samboja said the county government is seeking to construct four more modern markets in 4 of the wards
To further support the traders, the county is seeking to partners with Qwetu Sacco to avail affordable loans to the traders.
The traders are however calling on the government to secure the market against common theft cases. The 30 million shillings market has a capacity to hold 300 traders.