Coast

Kwale County breaks ground on Sh4.1m curving workshop for local traders

Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani addressing residents of Puma Ward during the groundbreaking ceremony of the curving workshop on June 8, 2024, (Photo: Mishi Gongo)

By Mishi Gongo | Sunday, June 9, 2024

The workshop is estimated to accommodate more than 200 traders who have been conducting their businesses under the scorching sun or leaking makeshift kiosks.

The Maasai community in Nyango Puma ward in Kwale county have a reason to smile after the county began construction of a curving workshop.

The workshop is estimated to accommodate more than 200 traders who have been conducting their businesses under the scorching sun or leaking makeshift kiosks.

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Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony on Saturday, Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani said the workshop will serve as a historical centre where the locals will store their cultural objects.

The Sh4.1 million project will be done in phases and is expected to be completed in four months.

Achani said the project will give the area a facelift and a boost for the tourism sector in the county.

"We expect this project to attract people from all over to come to Nyango and see and learn about your culture. This will serve as a tourist attraction site as well as opening this place to the outside world," she said.

She called on the contractor to employ people from within the Nyongo area as a way of fighting unemployment and poverty.

Locals at Nyongo village in Puma Ward during the ground breaking ceremony of the curving workshop on June 8, 2024. (Photo: Mishi Gongo)

Kimani Limna a resident in the area said the project will be a major booster to the economy of the area.

Limna said due to poverty many parents in Nyongo cannot take their children to school.

"We are grateful for this project because we have a platform to showcase our products," he said.

Most of the locals in Puma ward in Kinango sub-county depend on livestock for their livelihood.

Another local Abimelek Murithi, said he believes the project will help to eradicate poverty.

"Our area has been struggling with perennial drought, most of the time we lose our animals because they have no grazing lands but this project will give us an alternative source of income," he said adding that the training on how to market their businesses will go along way to ensure that they have national and international customers for their products.

Area MCA James Dawa asked the residents to make use of the project to improve their livelihood.

He added that the county will erect street lights to enable the residents to do business at night.

Other county officials who were present for the groundbreaking ceremony included CEC Public Service and Administration Karua Tsiwezi, CEC Roads Ali Joto, Chief Officer Trade Hassan Ngalaa, Chief Officer Social Services and Talent Management Riziki Mwasoza and Chief of Staff Joshua Mdoe.