Lucy Maingi arrived at the Nyeri Modern Market construction site in Rware Ward with a certificate in Building and Construction from Nyeri Technical and a desire to put her classroom knowledge to use. Three weeks in, she says the site has already taught her more than she expected.
Working as a casual labourer alongside experienced tradespeople, Maingi has had the chance to handle tools, lay stones and observe plastering up close, skills that extend well beyond what her formal training covered.
“I have learnt a lot. I studied Building and Construction at Nyeri Technical,” she said. “I have gained skills. I have been able to use a hammer, and here I have built with stones. I am also learning how they do plastering,” she told this writer.
Earning While Learning
Maingi’s story reflects a broader pattern at the site. Inspector of Works Rex Shiano says the project maintains an average of 35 to 45 workers on site each day, drawn from the surrounding area.
The workforce includes plumbers, electricians, masons, carpenters and casual workers, with women among those actively engaged. The contractor also offers training opportunities for people looking to enter the industry.
For Maingi, the work has delivered both a wage and hands-on experience that she says has shifted her perspective on construction.
“Many young people have been employed here. We are able to get our money from here,” she said, adding that she now encourages other young people to seek out opportunities where they can work and build practical skills at the same time.
What the Nyeri Modern Market Will Offer
The development itself is a substantial undertaking. Construction is currently at 70% physical progress, though Shiano notes the project required significant time during the early stages after excavations revealed that the site sat atop a former dumping area, necessitating mass excavation of more than 10 metres. Substructure and superstructure works are now largely complete, with walling and finishing works currently underway.
When finished, the facility is designed to accommodate around 750 traders. It will include dedicated sections for fruits and vegetables, clothes and shoes, and household goods, alongside cold stores, bulk stores, an ICT hub, a social hall, M-Pesa shops, a children’s play area and waste management facilities.
Shiano noted that the existing market currently operates largely from a parking lot, leaving traders exposed to vehicles and dust. The new facility is intended to give them a purpose-built, organised trading environment and to absorb traders currently operating from the bus terminal.
For Maingi, the broader vision of the project matters less than the immediate reality: a job that pays and teaches at the same time. She says that is precisely the kind of opportunity more young Kenyans should be pursuing.
