Nine months ago, Victor Kibet arrived at the Iten Modern Market construction site with no formal skills and few opportunities. Today, the young resident of Iten operates heavy equipment, earns better wages and sees a future beyond casual labour.

Kibet now says the ongoing project is more than a construction site. It has become a classroom, a source of income and a lifeline for many young people in the area.

“This Modern Market project here in Iten has come with many benefits for us young people because, instead of staying idle, it keeps us busy and away from drugs. The government has helped us as youth and removed us from the streets,” he said.

When he first joined the site, Kibet says he was doing basic manual tasks such as pushing sand and carrying materials. But with time, he learned practical skills that have elevated his position and earning potential.

“When I came here, I was just a young man with no skills, but after nine months, I have gained many skills. I started as someone pushing sand, but now I can operate machines like the mixer and also the forklift,” he said.

Those new skills now place him in a stronger position to secure better-paying opportunities on future construction projects as a skilled labourer.

Beyond career growth, the project has also brought stability at home. Kibet says he can now provide for his family, pay school fees for his child and meet rent obligations consistently.
“This project has really helped me. I now have a family, it has helped me pay school fees for my child, and I have not struggled with my landlord or with teachers,” he said.

The Iten Modern Market Project, located in Kapchemutwa Ward, Keiyo North Sub-County, is part of a broader government plan to improve trading spaces while creating jobs.

According to the latest progress report dated April 16, 2026, physical works stand at 31 per cent.

Clerk of Works at the site, Philemon Koech, says the market will benefit traders from not only Iten but across Elgeyo Marakwet County by offering a clean, secure and modern business environment.

The facility will feature fresh produce stalls, cold rooms, food courts, shops, offices, salons, prayer rooms, breastfeeding areas and Wi-Fi to support digital trade.

Once complete, the market is expected to accommodate over 750 traders, helping decongest the current crowded market where many sellers operate in muddy and unconducive conditions.

The project is already creating jobs, with over 100 workers on site daily, including masons, carpenters, machine operators and food vendors. Most of the workforce has been sourced locally.
Nationally, the government says modern markets are central to strengthening the informal sector by providing traders with clean, secure and well-equipped places of work.

President William Ruto recently said that 600 markets are underway across the country, fulfilling the government’s commitment to provide Mama Mboga and other small-scale traders with decent working spaces.

He noted that investment in modern markets is key to boosting small businesses, creating jobs and supporting economic growth at the grassroots level.

Once completed, the markets are expected to ease congestion, improve hygiene standards and enhance trade efficiency for thousands of traders across Kenya.