Traders operating at Kimironko Market say they are eager to relocate to the modern market under construction but want assurances that rental fees will remain fair and affordable, warning that high rent has undermined small businesses in similar projects elsewhere.

The Kimironko Commercial Complex ranks among the largest private-sector-led urban redevelopment projects in Kigali, integrating a modern market, transport infrastructure upgrades and mixed-use development.

Gasabo Investment Company (GIC), the developer and a key partner working with the City of Kigali, estimates total investment commitments for phases one and two at about $100 million.

Construction began in December 2025.

ALSO READ: The grey zones behind tenant disputes in shared buildings

Traders welcome upgrade, flag affordability

Many traders welcome the project, describing it as a major step toward a more integrated trading ecosystem offering improved services and infrastructure.

They also highlight the market’s evolution—from "Kwa Rwahama” to the current Kimironko Market, and now to the Kimironko Commercial Complex as a milestone in Kigali’s urban transformation.

Jean Maxime Tuyizere, who has been a trader in the Kimironko market for over 10 years, says the expansion presents significant opportunities for business growth.

He notes that many traders are now likely to occupy the new facility, unlike in the past when some relocated to Quartier Mateus in Kigali’s Central Business District in search of better infrastructure.

"This is an evolution happening right before our eyes,” Tuyizere says. "I have seen the same market from the days of ‘Kwa Rwahama,’ when my parents were trading there, until now. Many traders moved to Quartier Mateus, but this area is becoming a hotspot, and we may no longer see people moving elsewhere in search of modern infrastructure.”

Tuyizere, who sells curtains, clothes and bed covers, says most of his clients are apartment and hotel owners who place bulk orders. He expects the integrated setup to increase foot traffic and improve door-to-door service delivery.

"Modern facilities are increasingly being adopted,” he says. "The country is moving toward international commerce, and traders are adjusting how they operate. This is commendable and contributes to national economic growth.”

ALSO READ: Kigali: Nearly 200 former street vendors find new home at marketplace

Sylivie Mukeshimana, who sells plastic shoes and household footwear, says the current market rent starting at Rwf25,000 is affordable for many traders compared to prices in the city’s ‘Zones.’ However, she fears rent in the modern complex could rise beyond the reach of small businesses.

"We ask developers to consider everyone and charge rent according to the type of business,” she says. "A uniform fee would be unfair. We are ready to relocate and fully support the country’s vision. It was only a matter of time, and we saw it coming.”

ALSO READ: About 4,000 Kigali street vendors to be settled in new markets

Kimironko Market today

The current Kimironko Market operates as a traditional, community-based trading space housed in a large warehouse-style structure with four main entrances, each leading to specific product sections.

The entrance facing the Kimironko bus station hosts traders selling household items such as plastic buckets, jerrycans, basins and kitchen utensils.

On the right are stalls selling locally sourced and imported kitenge fabrics, while the left entrance houses butchers and fishmongers offering beef, goat meat, poultry and fish. At the far end, vendors sell second-hand clothes alongside tailors providing on-the-spot services.

While vibrant, the market remains informal in layout, crowded and limited in infrastructure, with minimal parking, basic facilities and little room for expansion.

A modern commercial and transport hub

The planned modern Kimironko Market is expected to transform the area into a fully integrated commercial and transport hub.

Scheduled to be operational by 2027, the development features a six-floor building with two basement levels providing parking for more than 300 vehicles, easing long-standing congestion.

The facility could host more than 3,200 organised commercial units. Developers say prices will be close to those in the current market, starting at Rwf40 million for a single unit. The spaces will accommodate retail shops, food vendors, offices and service centres.

Unlike the current market’s 1,800 units, the new facility is organised by product categories to improve hygiene, navigation and customer experience.

Phase two includes a commercial tower for retail, offices and warehousing, residential apartments, entertainment and recreation areas, and a modern bus terminal replacing the current bus and market area.

The terminal accommodates up to 80 buses at once and is expected to improve public transport circulation and safety.

A skybridge connects the terminal to the commercial building, ensuring smooth pedestrian movement between transport and trading areas.

Reassurances from developer, city

Innocent Kalisa, GIC’s Public Relations Officer, says traders are already engaged in the relocation process, including pricing, which he says will not be a burden for them.

"This is an upgraded facility, so of course it will not cost the same as the old one,” Kalisa says. "However, we understand their capacity and have discussed this with them. Traders will be relocated according to their zones and continue their businesses without interruption.”

Kalisa clarified that the Rwf40 million is the purchase price of a shop, not rent.

"This means that a person can buy a shop and later subdivide it into smaller units to lease to tenants under a condominium style arrangement,” he explained.

"General rental prices have not yet been determined, since shop owners may choose to sell or let their spaces in different sizes, which will not necessarily be uniform across the market,” he said.

City of Kigali spokesperson Emma Claudine Ntirenganya says the development of modern markets is central to the city’s vision and that investor requirements are clearly defined to ensure the infrastructure serves local communities.

"As the city develops, its infrastructure and economic operations must also evolve,” she says. "People need to adapt and move at the same pace. This is another achievement, and we should be ready to work together and succeed together.”