19/09/2026
Read, and Watch this video of ' new Gikomba market' in the republic of kenya within Nairobi County. The market that help most of the kenyan people and the government for their today economy realization. Infact, during my visited to Kenya in the year 2016-2023 as my studies was concerned, l found that building was under construction and still under construction now which is almost to the finishing line to act as traders basket market to help traders sale their goods in their allocated Shops later.
However; if one could put the new Gikomba Market of kenya into Analysis only, one could noticed that Kenyan government is really makings marathon with their Vision 2030 particularly the ministry of investment and the ministry of trade & industrialisation, ministry of cooperative society as well as City County who deal with town planning and other department which l didn't mentioned here are jointly focusing on how kenya should look like when that time comes (2030); ........
But, here when we look at our South Sudan Market (Konyokonyo Market) in Juba years to years there is no sustainable public market building that could act as a basket market for the traders to operate under be in Konyokonyo market, Custom market, Gumbo market, Gudele, Jebel, Newsite market and so on, but their taxes are always been collected in unsystematic taxe process whereby taxes are been collected without showing the public on how they are been used.
Moreover, if the government of South Sudan do mind about South Sudan vision 2040 which stated that " By 2040, we aspire to build an exemplary nation: a nation that is educated and informed; prosperous, productive and innovative; compassionate and tolerant; free, just and peaceful; democratic and accountable; safe, secure and healthy; and united and proud". the Vision Statement which was agreed and ammended in 2011 after independence with the Theme: "Towards freedom, equality, justice, peace and prosperity for all" / "Realising Freedom, Equality, Justice, Peace and Prosperity for All"
Then why not Safeguarding them (the market) by enforcing law that could favor the market rather than those individual building in unstructured manner and those City Council taxes collector in the market in uniform without proper tax systemic.
My question is that, do South Sudan government thinks about building this market for sustainability or they just collects those traders taxes without putting them into re-investment (market plan) for sustainable projects like Shops within Konyokonyo market or coming up with newly market with well structure owned by the government that could help other classified trader be transfer into the new market for their operation which can help to increase high profits to the traders, increase taxes revenue to the government and the government could be able to fund the public services back to the people as well as to attract external investors.
Are we following what we have stated in South Sudan Vision 2040 ? If not then we should style up and put them into realization for better South Sudan’s for us and the next generation to come.
Therefore; Reforming South Sudan’s market administration requires ministry of investment, trade and industrialisation, ministry of Agriculture and transport sectors to stands as a cornerstone for achieving fiscal stability and sustainable development. The country’s (South Sudan) current dependence on oil revenues has left market vulnerable to external shocks and undermined its ability to fund essential public market services like Konyokonyo market.
Addressing these vulnerabilities requires a comprehensive transformation of the modern public market Shops building and encourage local traders under one unifying building and modern tax system enforcement - the one that is efficient, transparent, and equitable to all in the market place. As in my comparative experiences from other countries like Kenya, Rwanda and uganda, offer valuable lessons, demonstrating that successful market reform must go beyond technical adjustments and encompass institutional strengthening, clear legal frameworks and enforcement, making use of digital innovation, allowing proactive traders engagement and unwavering commitment to anti-corruption in the system.
Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the South Sudan government and any affiliated institutions. This document is intended for academic view only.
Thanks by
Johnson Jok,
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