Nairobi County has directed the immediate closure of all Naivas Supermarket outlets within the city following the discovery of expired food products on sale.
The Nairobi County Health Committee issued the shutdown order after inspections revealed expired items — including Daima yoghurt — at the Moi Avenue branch.
Inspectors also found food products without clear expiry dates, which they said posed serious health risks to consumers.
Committee Chairperson, MCA Maurice Ochieng, further noted that many Naivas employees handling food had not undergone the mandatory medical tests or obtained the necessary health certification.
The county stated that the closures will remain in force until Naivas ensures all its food-handling staff are medically tested and certified, and the affected outlets undergo comprehensive product checks and receive clearance from the relevant health authorities.
This move impacts multiple Naivas branches across the capital, disrupting operations at one of Kenya’s leading retail chains. County officials stressed that the decision was made in the interest of protecting public health and warned other retailers to strictly adhere to food safety standards.
Naivas has not yet issued an official statement in response to the closure.
The directive follows a separate incident just weeks earlier in Kiambu, where a cholera outbreak was linked to a Naivas eatery.
According to Dr. Japheth Kuthoni of Kiambu Referral Hospital, preliminary investigations revealed that most of the affected individuals had consumed food or beverages from an outlet near Naivas Supermarket in Thika.
“Multiple patients reported dining at the location before becoming ill, indicating it as the likely source,” said Dr. Kuthoni.
