Lillian Wairimu works at the Field Marshal Muthoni Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) Market in Nyeri, where she has gained practical construction skills, earned an income and developed a greater sense of financial independence.
She joined the project in 2024 as a casual labourer, with little experience in skilled construction. At the time, she says she is the only woman working on the site.
The opportunity gives her a chance to learn on the job while earning a living, gradually moving her beyond casual manual work and into skilled construction tasks.
“I feel nice,” she says, reflecting on the opportunity to work alongside others on the project.
The work provides Lillian with an entry point into construction and allows her to acquire skills she did not previously have. She credits Project Clerk of Works Dorcas Kathambi Kang’ethe with supporting her journey and helping her develop her skills.
Today, Lillian says she is more confident in carrying out skilled work, having moved beyond simply providing manual labour.
The experience also gives her a measure of financial independence. Her income helps her meet everyday needs while building a practical skill that she hopes will support her future.
Her experience highlights one of the less visible outcomes of construction projects: the practical skills workers acquire while helping to build infrastructure.
At Field Marshal Muthoni ESP Market, workers are not the only people benefiting from activity around the site.
According to Kathambi, the project employs around 100 labourers on busy construction days. Food vendors and other people who provide meals to workers also earn an income from the activity.
Located in Rware, Nyeri Town Constituency, the project starts in May 2024 and is completed around November 2025 at a cost of Sh57 million.
The facility includes market stalls, code stalls, a social hall, an ICT hub, parking space for around 50 vehicles, a children’s play area and a breastfeeding area.
Kathambi says the completed facility improves the trading environment and provides additional space for local businesses.
The market currently accommodates around 400 traders. However, the project team finds that membership stands at around 1,000, creating a significant gap between the number of registered members and available trading space.
The gap contributes to the decision to develop a larger modern market capable of accommodating more traders.
For young people who work or intern on the project, the construction site also serves as a practical learning environment.
Kathambi says seven interns are attached to the project and she witnesses their progress from the time they arrive.
“They have learnt something new,” she says, noting that some even change their courses and begin pursuing construction-related work.
Lillian’s experience reinforces the value of opportunities that allow young people to earn while developing practical skills.
She hopes more projects are undertaken across the country, saying construction work provides young people with employment while equipping them with skills they can carry into the future.
Having entered the site as a casual labourer, Lillian now sees construction as more than a source of income. It is giving her a trade, experience and the independence to build towards her future.
