Kiratina long-stalled market to be converted into Susan Kihika public school
A photo of the Susan Kihika Primary and Junior School, which is to be constructed on the site of the former Kiratina Market.
A new public school is set to be built on the site of the long-abandoned Kiratina Market in Nakuru, bringing an end to a decade-long project that had become a symbol of broken promises.
On October 29, President William Ruto launched the construction of the Sh70 million school, directing that the project be completed by January 2026. Located in Nakuru East constituency, the school will provide hundreds of children from Kiratina and surrounding areas with access to a public learning institution.
“In January, I will return to Nakuru to open this school. Children from Kiratina deserve the same educational opportunities as every other child in Kenya,” said President Ruto during the launch.
The Head of State instructed Nakuru East MP David Gikaria and the contractor to work in two eight-hour shifts to speed up completion.
Governor Susan Kihika, after whom the school is named, said that the project would significantly improve access to education and enhance safety for young learners.
"This will reduce the number of children hit by vehicles while crossing the highway to access education. The school will directly serve the Kiratina community and even benefit neighbouring estates," she said.
For years, the Kiratina Market project remained unfinished a concrete shell that had become a symbol of failed development. Residents often cited it as one of the many 'white elephant' projects that drained public funds but yielded no benefits.
Converting it into a school is therefore being viewed by many as a long-overdue solution that finally puts the idle land to good use. The densely populated and fast-growing area has seen an increase in demand for educational facilities.
However, even as excitement builds, questions over the fate of the original market project remain unanswered. Activist Laban Omusundi says that the county and national governments should still be held accountable for the millions previously spent on the abandoned market.
“Millions were invested in that market, and nothing ever came of it. While it is positive that the land will finally serve the community, accountability is still necessary,” Mr Omusundi says.
The Kiratina Market project, initiated over a decade ago, was intended to provide modern trading spaces for local vendors, but it stalled midway through due to funding and management issues.
The decision to name the new school after Governor Kihika has also sparked debate among some residents, who believe that public institutions should be named after the community rather than sitting leaders.
“Public projects should reflect the people, not individuals in power,” said one resident who requested anonymity. "That said, we appreciate the jobs being created and the fact that our children will finally have a nearby school."
However, for many, the focus remains on the opportunity that the school represents: a chance for children in the area to study closer to home, and for the community to finally see meaningful development on the long-abandoned site.
The transformation from a failed market to a modern school marks a new chapter for Kiratina, and residents hope it will deliver renewed trust in how public projects are managed.
As construction begins, there is optimism that the project will meet its January 2026 deadline and stand as a lasting investment in education and the community's future.