Is it a Church? Why Nakuru residents are confused by this structure that was supposed to be completed three years ago by the county government
The incomplete Naivasha smart fish market along the Nakuru-Nairobi highway.
Driving along the Nakuru-Nairobi highway in Karai area I am sure you have noticed an unfinished structure glaring at you by the road side.
To anyone who is not from Nakuru a hundred things might come to mind as to what the skeletal structure is supposed to be.
A prevailing theory among netizens is that the structure is meant to be a church, thanks to its unconventional design. But here’s the twist—it’s not a place of worship.
What initially appears to be shaping up as a cathedral is actually the unfinished Naivasha Smart Fish Market, located in Naivasha East Ward, Naivasha sub-county.
Sources close to the county government reveal that the structure was intentionally designed to resemble a fish, a nod to its purpose as a modern fish market.
The incomplete Naivasha smart fish market along the Nakuru-Nairobi highway.
Reports credit students from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) with conceptualizing the market’s innovative design.
Unfortunately, efforts by Mtaa Wangu to reach the project’s manager for further details on the inspiration behind the design were unsuccessful.
Beyond its striking appearance, the project is estimated to have costs Sh239 million and remains incomplete to this day.
The market was envisioned as a solution to public health concerns about fish being hawked along the busy highway.
The Department of Public Health had flagged and banned this practice, citing improper handling of fish by vendors.
Construction of the market began in August 2021, with an ambitious completion deadline set for December of the same year.
The incomplete Naivasha smart fish market along the Nakuru-Nairobi highway.
It was designed to be the first of its kind in the country, incorporating solar energy and offering smart solutions such as systems digitization, E-waste management, E-mobility options (like electric motorcycles and charging ports), and cold storage units to reduce food loss and waste.
The facility was also expected to provide a safe and modern working space for over 250 traders.
Now, three years later, the market remains a skeletal shadow of its potential, sparking frustration and criticism over the delay. Leading to the situation being labeled as "fishy" behavior.