Ngong Town: A fast-growing business hub in Kajiado County is attracting traders and investors as urban growth shapes livelihoods, creating jobs and changing lives. Over the last decade, Ngong has undergone rapid urban development largely driven by its proximity to Nairobi and a rising demand for improved infrastructure, residential, and commercial space.
According to Kenya News Agency, the town's vibrant days, which are Wednesdays and Saturdays, still attract traders from neighboring areas, but the business landscape is expanding beyond tradition. The newly built Ngong Market, officially opened two years ago, has further boosted trade by offering traders a modern, secure, and organized space to conduct business. Previously, traders operated in open-air stalls, exposed to harsh weather conditions and lacking security.
Today, the modern multi-storey market facility houses many traders in well-organized stalls, complete with lighting, sanitation, water supply, and security. "This market has brought safety to our merchandise. Due to climate change, we lacked stores to keep them; we were transporting them every morning and evening to the rentals, which could lead to destruction and theft," Alex Mugoro Njiri, a trader at Ngong Market and a leader in charge of the first-floor traders of the market, told KNA.
Mugoro added that establishing their business has helped them, as they do not have to hawk and move around to sell their products, but customers come to them, creating a bit of order. A meeting held by the County government business officials, traders, and stakeholders saw the traders be located in a centralized place, as initially there was always a big challenge of space, but now the 4-storey, ultra-modern market houses over 2,000 traders.
Samuel Njenga, a shoe seller in Ngong Market who previously sold along the roads, echoed that the building has reduced the tax revenue and brought order as it is collected every evening. "We used to be harassed daily when selling by roadside and being asked for tax every other time by multiple people claiming to work with the council. Personally, I am more organized. I plan well; I receive customers on a daily basis, and this has helped in generating more income for me and my family," he added.
Most traders, however, told KNA that there still remain a few challenges that the County government should look into, such as electricity blackouts and cuts due to non-payment, petty theft, and some brokers inside the market who still harass the traders and customers. According to most traders, the market has addressed employment problems since the youth are the ones doing business within the premises, with most of them having formed groups and selling electronics, accessories, phone services, and many more.
As Ngong Town continues to expand, the modern market stands as a beacon of inclusive growth, one that is changing lives, promoting order, and anchoring the town's transformation into another level.