Ndaragwa traders seek to change their market day to beat competition

This, they said, will ensure healthy competition with traders from other areas whom they say have been taking advantage of the Sunday market day at Gwa Kungu to sell their wares at lower prices, leaving local traders languishing with “dead” stock’.

The local traders lamented that some people from neighbouring towns flock to the market and compete with them, making them incur huge losses.

During a public participation forum held at the market on Wednesday, the traders agreed to have the market day shifted from Sunday to Wednesday, saying this would help them earn a living and also ensure that traders from other towns do not exploit them.

They also noted that the new development will enable them to go to church on Sundays.

Charles Waruingi, an officer with the Department of Trade in Nyandarua County and Mbuyu Locational Chief Joseph Kirumba Kuria commended the traders and residents for their deliberations and recommendations, saying the selected day was suitable for traders in the fast-growing trading centre located between Nyahururu town and Ndaragawa Trading centre along the Nyahururu-Nyeri road.

Waruingi noted that traders pushed for the shifting of the market day after it emerged that other towns had their market days on weekdays.

He added that the county will, in consultation with traders and area leaders, provide a centrally located place where goods will be displayed during market days.

Traders called on the county government to improve the drainage systems and garbage collection to enhance cleanliness.