NAIROBI — Authorities in Kenya’s capital have ordered the closure of all Naivas and Carrefour supermarkets in Nairobi, citing serious public health violations including the sale of expired food and the employment of untested food handlers.
The sweeping directive was issued by the Nairobi County Assembly’s Health Committee on Wednesday, following a series of inspections across the city.
“We found expired products still on the shelves,” said Health Committee Chair Maurice Ochieng, speaking outside Naivas’ Moi Avenue branch. “This is a serious risk to the public. We cannot compromise on food safety.”
Ochieng said the violations came to light during routine visits to major retail outlets, including one conducted this week at Carrefour’s Wabera Street store. There, officials allegedly discovered that most food handlers had not undergone the mandatory health checks required under Kenyan law.
“Cap 254 of the Public Health Act is very clear,” he said. “If you are handling food, you must be medically certified. These supermarkets failed that test.”
Both retailers were issued closure notices instructing them to cease operations immediately until they meet health standards. A notice directed to Carrefour Wabera Street to “stop operations with immediate effect” until full compliance is confirmed.
Carrefour Kenya, a franchise of the French multinational operated by Majid Al Futtaim, has rapidly expanded since its 2016 debut and now operates several outlets in Nairobi and beyond. Naivas, a household name in Kenya with more than 90 branches countrywide, has been in operation for over three decades.
Neither supermarket has released an official response to the allegations as of Thursday afternoon.
The committee’s action comes as Nairobi grapples with a rise in cholera cases. Health officials have warned that unsanitary conditions and lax oversight in food handling could worsen the outbreak.
“We’re not taking chances,” Ochieng said. “These closures are necessary to prevent further spread of disease. Public safety must come first.”
The Nairobi Health Department is now under pressure to act quickly. The committee has called on County Health CEC Suzanne Silantoi to ensure strict enforcement of public health laws, especially in high-traffic commercial spaces.
While some Nairobi residents have welcomed the move as overdue, others have voiced concern about disruptions to daily life. “These are major supermarkets many of us depend on them,” said Anne Wanjiru, a resident of South B. “But if they’re not safe, then action must be taken.”
Analysts say the crackdown could mark a shift in how local authorities monitor major retailers, long seen as largely self-regulating in areas such as hygiene and staffing.
“This is a wake-up call to the entire retail sector,” said Paul Odhiambo, a consumer protection expert based in Nairobi. “It shows that no brand is above the law.”
What remains unclear is how long the closures will last and whether the retailers will contest the decision.
In the meantime, inspections are expected to continue across the city. More enforcement action could follow if similar violations are uncovered elsewhere.
