By Joel Clinton
For years, darkness fell on Makongeni Market long before many traders planned to close for the day. As evening came, business slowed, customers rushed home, and worries about theft made many vendors pack up early.
Today, that story has changed. The installation of floodlights across the market has turned the once dim trading center into a safer and more lively marketplace. Now, hundreds of traders can extend their hours with new confidence.
This project is a welcome relief for traders who have spent years asking for better security and improved infrastructure. The bright lights now shine on every corner of the market, making it easier for customers to shop after sunset. This also reduces chances for criminals who used to take advantage of the darkness.
Lucy wanyonyi, a vegetable trader who has worked at the market for several years, called the installation a dream come true. “For many years we asked for proper lighting because we feared losing our goods and customers. Today, we can trade into the evening without constantly looking over our shoulders. It feels like our voices have finally been heard,” she said.
Traders say the new lighting has already begun attracting more customers in the evening, boosting sales and allowing small businesses to earn more. The brighter setting has also created a sense of safety for both traders and shoppers, especially women who used to avoid the market after dark.
Fresh produce seller Kimson Mwangi noted that the floodlights have brought back confidence for business owners. “Before the lights were installed, we would close as early as 6 p.m. because the market became too dark and unsafe. Now customers keep coming in the evening, and that means better income for all of us,” he said.
Residents living near the market have also welcomed the change. They believe the better lighting will help discourage criminal activities that had occasionally occurred around the trading center.
Market committee chairperson Jane Njeri praised the teamwork that led to the project. She said that persistence and unity among traders were key to addressing their concerns. “This is a victory for every trader who never gave up. We remained united and continued to engage the relevant authorities until action was taken. The floodlights have given Makongeni Market a new face and a brighter future,” she said.
As business thrives under the glow of the new lights, Makongeni Market shows how better public infrastructure can support local economies, improve security, and restore hope to hardworking traders whose patience has finally paid off.
