A cow grazes near the abandoned fish market in Karai, Naivasha in Nakuru County on February 17, 2025.
As you approach Naivasha town from Karai on the Nakuru-Nairobi highway, an imposing structure catches your eye on the right side of the road.
Its sheer size and modern design make it impossible to ignore yet its purpose isn’t immediately clear.
A closer look reveals an abandoned structure that is half built, lifeless and is slowly succumbing to neglect.
What was once envisioned as a game-changer for Nakuru County’s fish trade now stands as a stark reminder of stalled development and unfulfilled promises.
The Karai Fish Market, sitting on a two-acre parcel of land, was meant to transform fish business by providing traders with a hygienic and well-equipped space complete with cold storage facilities, proper drainage and security.
Launched during former Governor Lee Kinyanjui’s tenure, the Sh380 million project was backed by a partnership between the county government, the Eastern Africa Grain Council and the Rockefeller Foundation.
Construction of the market began in August 2021 following a ban on roadside fish hawking by the Nakuru Department of Public Health which deemed the practice unsafe for both traders and consumers.
The market was expected to accommodate at least 300 fish traders who previously sold their stock dangerously along the busy highway by providing much-needed storage facilities and an organized marketplace for traders.
However, nearly four years later the project remains incomplete, abandoned and riddled with uncertainty.
When Governor Susan Kihika took office in 2022, she assured residents that all stalled projects from her predecessor’s administration would be completed with the fish market being a priority.
However, two years into her tenure, little progress has been made.
The once-promising facility is now a shell of its intended purpose, overgrown with grass, incomplete toilets, a half-built fence and reports of stolen construction materials.
Traders who had pinned their hopes on the market express growing frustration feeling abandoned by a government that once promised them transformation.
On February 9, 2023, Governor Kihika announced through her website that a meeting had been convened by Trade Chief Officer Samwel Ndegwa and acting Trade Director Josephat Kimemia between contractors and stakeholders to address challenges hindering the market’s completion.
At the time, officials reported that the project was 70perccent complete and was expected to be operational within six months.
She noted that the Trade Chief Officer Samwel Ndegwa and acting Trade Director Josephat Kimemia convened a roundtable meeting with contractors and stakeholders.
“Governor Susan Kihika’s commitment to completing ongoing projects, as outlined in her manifesto, adds weight to the urgency of ensuring the timely delivery of the Naivasha smart fish market. The market, also known as the Karai Fish market, holds the promise of revolutionizing the fish trading business not only in Nakuru County but also in the wider region,” it stated.
Later in October, Trade CEC Stephen Kuria and Chief Officer Samuel Ndegwa visited the site, reiterating their commitment to fast-tracking the market’s completion.
They cited only three remaining tasks: constructing a perimeter wall, completing the ablution block, and finalizing water piping. Despite these promises, a visit by county officials in September 2024 revealed that the project was still far from completion.
The Nakuru County Government, through its official Facebook page, indicated that a budgetary assessment was underway to determine the additional funds required.
Mr Kuria and his Infrastructure CEC Michael Kamau instructed engineers to prepare a comprehensive Bill of Quantities (BQ) for the pending work.
However, by February 14, 2025, the county government appeared to shift its stance entirely.
In a press briefing, County Secretary Dr Samuel Mwaura cited a lack of public participation as a major setback claiming that traders were not fully involved in the planning phase.
He revealed that Sh107 million had already been spent—Sh89 million on the market shed, Sh9 million on a borehole, and Sh9 million on fencing.
According to Dr Mwaura, two meetings with the community on January 24 and 29 exposed a lack of local ownership.
While the government initially envisioned the market as a fish trading hub, some community members preferred a vegetable market at the site while fishermen advocated for relocating the fish market to one of the county’s lake landing beaches.
Karai Fish Market was meant to transform fish business by providing traders with a hygienic and well-equipped space.
“The project has used Sh107 million so far yet we have no operational market for traders. The borehole, drilled without geological experts, only produces one cubic meter of water per hour, making it expensive to maintain. Had there been community involvement from the start this money might not have gone to waste,” he said.
A spot-check by Nation.africa at the site painted a grim picture.
The deserted with overgrown grass, incomplete infrastructure and rampant vandalism highlight its neglect. Some metal parts have already been stolen further dimming hopes of its revival.
Residents express disappointment at the county government’s failure to fulfill its promise. Patrick Njenga, a local trader recalls the initial excitement when the project started as it offered fishmongers a safe, designated space to sell their products.
“The market stalled during the campaign period, but Governor Kihika promised to complete it once she was elected. That has not happened. Instead, we now have to travel several kilometers to Kinungi market to sell vegetables, which is costly,” Njenga lamented.
He urged the county to hasten completion of the project saying it would significantly improve their livelihoods.
“They keep coming here registering people and taking down our names and ID numbers, but nothing changes. We want to know what’s really happening,” he added.
Commercial fishermen at the shores of Lake Naivasha.
For fishmongers, the stalled market is more than just an abandoned structure as itit represents lost opportunities. Gabriel Githua who has been selling fish along the highway for six years says the project was meant to resolve long-standing challenges such as storage, market access and security.
“We thought this market would help us, but now we are left to fend for ourselves. Without proper storage, we suffer losses from spoilage. Worse, we risk our lives every day selling on the highway. This is a black spot yet we have no other choice,” Githua said.
He also described frequent run-ins with law enforcement where fishmongers are arrested and their stock confiscated. Despite these hardships, they continue to operate in the only way they know how.
“We will keep coming back because this is our livelihood. But we hope the county will complete the market so that we can work in a safer environment,” he said.
For now, the once-promising market remains a glaring symbol of unfulfilled potential and another stalled project collecting dust along the Nakuru-Nairobi highway.
