{
  "id": 12123011,
  "title": "Watamu ESP Market fully occupied, traders laud government",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/watamu-esp-market-fully-occupied-traders-laud-government",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-05T09:33:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "KBC",
    "slug": "kbc",
    "url": "https://www.kbc.co.ke/watamu-esp-market-fully-occupied-traders-laud-government/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Traders at the Watamu Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) Market have commended President William Ruto for establishing a modern facility that provides improved trading spaces and clean, efficient, safe, and well-located working conditions. The market modernization project, carried out by the State Department for Housing and Urban Development (SDHUD) in collaboration with county governments, aims to offer affordable workspaces with ample parking, secure storage, and sanitation facilities across the Coast region and the entire nation.\n\nThe newly completed Watamu ESP Market houses trading stalls, an ablution block, a borehole, and waste disposal facilities. It also features a Ksh 66.28 million Mazeras ESP Market in Rabai, offering 90 stalls, a mother's room, a children's play area, and storage facilities. Additionally, the Ksh 146.05 million Godoma TTI Student Village in Ganze, accommodating 340 students, is equipped with water, security, and waste management infrastructure.\n\nTraders, including mama mboga Riziki Ali and Jane Kendi, expressed their gratitude for the new market's cleanliness and comfort, which surpass their previous conditions and provide protection from harsh weather. Samuel Mwita Gathoni, Chairman of the Watamu ESP Market, noted that the facility has revitalized the lives of over 200 traders by offering them designated spaces, better customer and vehicle access, and opportunities to earn a livelihood.\n\nState Department Principal Secretary Charles Hinga emphasized that the market aims to restore dignity to traders while offering practical facilities for daily business, including a cold room for perishables, lighting, a lactation room, a kitchen, toilets, and a hall for meetings. During his coastal region tour, President Ruto also inspected the Mwatunge ESP Market in Mwatate Constituency, Taita Taveta County, a Ksh 55.17 million facility accommodating 200 traders, complete with a mother's lactation room, children's play area, dry store, cold room, ICT hub, food court, and kitchen, among other amenities. The project will benefit approximately 30,000 residents of Mwatate, generating employment and local procurement opportunities.",
  "summary": "Traders praise the clean, secure and weather protected facility The post Watamu ESP Market fully occupied, traders laud government appeared first on KBC Digital .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Capital FM Kenya",
        "title": "Watamu ESP Market Fully Occupied as Over 200 Traders Benefit",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/watamu-esp-market-fully-occupied-as-over-200-traders-benefit",
        "published": "2026-10-05T09:24:48.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}