Nairobi County has taken a stern stance against Naivas Supermarkets, ordering all its branches within the county to shut down immediately over concerns of selling expired goods.
The Nairobi County Health Committee revealed that inspections uncovered a disturbing trend: expired products, including yogurt, were found on shelves across several Naivas outlets. Some items were also missing expiry dates, raising serious health concerns for consumers.
Maurice Ochieng, a member of the County Assembly and chair of the health committee, led the inspection at Naivas Moi Avenue branch. He demonstrated to journalists how expired yogurt was still being sold, emphasizing the risk posed to Nairobi residents.
“The presence of expired products on the shelves endangers public health,” Ochieng stated on Wednesday, May 14. “We found products without expiry dates, which is highly alarming. We can’t allow this to continue.”
The committee also accused the supermarket of employing staff who are not certified or medically tested to handle food items. Ochieng explained that all Naivas outlets will remain closed until staff undergo proper testing and obtain official certification to serve customers safely.
“The closure will give us a chance to conduct a comprehensive investigation into Naivas’ supply chain and ensure compliance with health standards,” he added. “Naivas will only reopen once their staff are certified and the products meet safety standards.”
Among the issues raised was the lack of shelf life indication on some products, a situation that the committee warned could pose severe health hazards.
Naivas Supermarkets, which operates over 30 branches across Nairobi—including Kilimani, Lavington, Westlands, Lang’ata, Buruburu, and Kasarani—faces potential significant setbacks. The move could also impact hundreds of employees, with fears that further national directives might lead to closures of other retail chains.
Nairobi County is urging the County Chief Health Officer, Suzanne Silantoi, to act swiftly to protect residents from contaminated or unsafe food products.
This development underscores the urgent need for strict adherence to food safety standards across retail outlets, ensuring that Nairobians can shop with confidence and peace of mind.
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