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NAIROBI CITY COUNTY MARKETS
Mapping of major selected food markets in Nairobi
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Project Background
Retail market mapping enables the tracing of the food flows from the sources to consumption. Through this, it enables the identification of food system activities taking place within city region boundaries. From the latter, identification of food system vulnerabilities, weaknesses, and strengths is done (food deserts/underserviced areas). The identification of the origin and diversity of food supply sources and gaps is determined as well as identification of trends in consumption which in turn informs on nutritional diversity for better planning of the food environment by the city. Of key importance is identification of parts in the chain where most food waste is generated and determination on how to manage this loss. The assessment of the infrastructure or lack of within the markets offers the opportunity for interventions to better markets.
Summary of activity
The data collection exercise was conducted from April 24 to April 29, 2023. The activity involved collecting data using a customized digital questionnaire that was developed specifically to capture information as directed by NCCG for the identified 10 food markets, namely Wakulima/Marikiti, Muthurwa, City Market, City Park, Toi, N Market, Kawangware, Quarry Road/Gikomba Fish and Cereals Market, Ruai, Korogocho, and Burma/Shauri Moyo Market. The target list of data was based on previous discussions during the Stakeholders Workshop with the Nairobi City County Government officials and stakeholders.
Nairobi City County Government Food Retail Web Map
Nairobi City County Food Markets
Wakulima Market
Wakulima Market commonly known as Marikiti is located in the Nairobi Central Ward. It has a trader capacity of 2000 and 8 permanent stalls. The main food commodity is irish potatoes. Other food commodities include vegetables, fruits, and tubers. The market operates from 0400hrs - 1400hrs.
Food Commodities in Wakulima Market
City Park Market
City market is located along Limuru road in Karura Ward.It has a trader capacity of 1500 and 1200 permanent stalls. The main food commodity is fruits. Other food commodities include cereals and spices. The market operates from 0400hrs - 1800hrs.
Food Commodities in City Park Market
Nairobi City Market
Nairobi City Market is located in Nairobi Central Ward.It has a trader capacity of 200 and 80 permanent stalls. The main food commodity is broilers. Other food commodities include meat and sea food. The market operates from 0000hrs - 0000hrs.
Toi Market
Toi market is located in Woodley Ward.It has a trader capacity of 500 and 200 permanent stalls.The main food commodity is vegetables. Other food commodities include flour and cereals.The market operates from 0006hrs - 1800hrs.
Burma Market
Burma market is located in Pumwani Ward.It has a trader capacity of 6000 and 300 permanent stalls. The main food commodity is meat. Other food commodities include poultry and vegetables. The market operates from 0006hrs - 1800hrs.
Food Commodities in Burma Market
Kawangware Market
Kawangware market is located in Kawangware Ward.It has a trader capacity of 1000 and 400 permanent stalls. There main food commodity is vegetables. Other food commodities include flour,fruits and cereals. The market operates from 0400hrs - 1800hrs.
Food Commodities in Kawangware Market
Ruai market
Ruai market is located along Limuru road in Karura Ward.It has a trader capacity of 1500 and 1200 permanent stalls. The main food commodity is Fruits. Other food commodities include cereals and spices. The market operates from 0500hrs - 1100hrs.
Muthurwa market
Muthurwa market is located in Nairobi Central Ward.It has a trader capacity of 1000 and 0 permanent stalls. The main food commodity is vegetables and tomatoes. Other food commodities include tubers and green bananas. The market operates from 0000hrs - 0000hrs.
Food Commodities in Muthurwa Market
Quary road
Quary road market is located in Pumwani ward.It has a trader capacity of 1000 and 181 permanent stalls. The main food commodity is Fish . Other food commodities include cereals and vegetables. The market operates from 0400hrs - 1800hrs.
Korongocho Market
Korongocho market is located in Korongocho Ward.It has a trader capacity of 1000 and 500 permanent stalls. The main food commodity is tomatoes and cereals. Other food commodities include tubers and green bananas. The market operates from 0004hrs - 0018hrs.
´Food commodities in Korongocho market
Challanges
- Overcrowding : Congestion in the markets led to some traders doing business on the corridors, pathways and existing feeder roads to the markets.
- Inadequate trading space leads to a lack of ample parking for offloading and customer vehicles. This also applied to the hand-pulled carts.
- Poor Market Infrastructure The majority of the drainage systems get clogged during rainy seasons as contributed by poor food waste disposal. Some market affixtures are in poor states. Lack of proper storage facilities such as cold rooms result into high post-harvest losses. Inadequate washrooms and water points.
- Lack of proper waste management procedures resulting into huge piles of solid waste, pest and rodent invasions in the markets.
- Inadequate staff
Opportunities
- Engaging the youth in food waste management such as making briquets and artificial firewood, making oil from avocados, bar soaps from Irish potatoes, carrying out urban agriculture. Training the youth addition activities such as making yorghut. This mitigates ideleness and high crime rates among the youths in markets
- Development of multi-storey modern markets with ultra-modern infrastructural facilities to cater for the ever-increasing needs from traders such as trading spaces and improved food storage
- Capacity building for traders and officers in market management issues
- Decentralization of food markets to various wards to decongest the existing markets. Notably other areas lack a single market such as South B/South C
- Increase public participation at all times to cater for the different needs and market infrastructural development
- Staff recruitment to cater for the markets management and operations issues