Chuka town Juakali traders will in the next three months start operating from a Sh9.5 million modern garage being constructed by Tharaka Nithi government.
The traders among them mechanics have been operating at the open area for many years and were carrying their tools home as there were no premises.
Completion of the modern structure means that the traders will comfortably carry out their business to late hours and will now have a place to lock their trading tools in.
Speaking during the groundbreaking event in the town, Governor Muthomi Njuki said the Juakali community garage is meant to support development of a skilled workforce and drive entrepreneurial development in the county.
He however said only temporal structures will be built for easy relocation should there be need for expansion of the adjacent Embu-Meru Highway.
The facilities at the garage will include: an auto-spares shop, changing room, restaurant and parking lot.
Njuki stressed that after completion, all the displaced traders will be allowed back calling them to bear with the situation.
“I am appealing to those affected to at least look for somewhere they can be operating from for the three months after which, they will be allowed back,” Njuki said.
The Governor said his government was committed to ensuring that traders in the entire county have a conducive working environment.
At Chuka open air market, his government has plans of improving draining system and repairing leaking roof at the groceries’ points.
Njuki said his government had allocated Sh10 million to improve and expand stalls at the market to accommodate traders selling potatoes and tomatoes by the roadside.
