Marsabit attracts businesses after highway is completed

Marsabit Town is attracting more investors with several companies dealing in petroleum products setting up business, in effect opening up the northern frontier region market.

Total company, which deals in petroleum products, will be opening its doors for Marsabit customers on June 1.

The Total fuel station is located 500 meters from Marsabit Town along the Isiolo-Marsabit road.

Another 500 meters away along the Marsabit-Moyale road, a private investor is setting up a petroleum products company.

Speaking to Nation on Thursday, Simon Gitau, the manager in charge of the construction of the Baslum Business Hub where Total will be based, said this will be the first branch of the oil company in the northern frontier region.

STRATEGIC LOCATION

Mr Gitau said that the Total branch is located at a very strategic location where they can cater for the growing market.

“All other roads in the region are not tarmacked and the entrance of the Total Oil company gives some confidence to the customers. This will be the only branch within Marsabit, Wajir, Garrissa and Mandera counties,” said Mr Gitau.

Marsabit Town has opened up after the completion of the Isiolo-Moyale highway, a flagship project that picked up in 2013.

The road has opened up transport and thus attracting many investors in the sector.

New matatu saccos have come to the town and there has been a remarkable increase in the number of taxis, tuk tuks and bodabodas.

This has since then increased the demand for more oil and gas products.

INVESTMENTS

Next to Total company are National Oil and then the Shell Company fuel stations.

National Oil Marsabit branch manager Abdul Hussein said the business opened in 2013 as a private investment and rebranded earlier 2017.

Mr Hussein told Nation that when his family ventured into the business, the tarmac road was yet to reach Marsabit Town.

He said vehicles then, were fewer and business had not picked up.

“Right now, not only vehicles but also boda boda operators have increased in the town. Matatus have also ventured into transport (business) in and out of Marsabit, increasing business earnings,” said Mr Hussein.

COMPETITION

He said competitors are coming in and the town will soon be home to various companies.

“We are now going to face stiffer competition because other companies are setting up and more will come up in the future,” said Mr Hussein.

Shell branch manager Baslum Omar said that the station also began as a private investment in the 70s.

“We began this station when the road was not existing. Vehicles had to make their way into bushes to get to Marsabit,” said Mr Omar.

He added that business has not only become better but has also changed its focus.

“Previously most vehicles that came for service were used to dusty, rough roads but today all that has changed,” said Mr Omar.