Naivas Refuses To Shut Down Nairobi Supermarkets: We Won't Be Extorted
Naivas hinted at the possibility of pursuing legal action against the Nairobi County Assembly Health Committee
Marvin Chege 
Naivas Supermarket has announced that it will not shut down any of its more than 30 Nairobi branches, despite an earlier directive from the Nairobi County Assembly’s Health Committee ordering the closure of all outlets in the city over claims of selling expired food items.
In a statement on Wednesday, May 14, Naivas moved to "correct recent misinformation circulating on social media and other informal channels" regarding the alleged sale of expired products and the closure order issued by the committee.
"We would like to reassure our customers, partners, and the general public that no expired products have been found on our shelves, and we maintain stringent internal quality control and stock management systems across all our branches to ensure product safety and compliance with health regulations," stated Naivas in part.
A photo of the inside of a Naivas Supermarket in Nairobi County. /MARVIN CHEGE.VIRAL TEA KE
"No Naivas branch has been closed by any regulatory or health authority. All our stores remain fully operational and compliant with all national and county-level standards set by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), the Ministry of Health, and relevant bodies."
The supermarket chain termed the circulating claims as "entirely false, misleading, and potentially harmful", not just to its brand but to its valued customers who rely on it for daily essentials.
In a strategic move to defend its reputation, Naivas hinted at the possibility of pursuing legal action against the Nairobi County Assembly Health Committee, suggesting that the allegations were part of an extortion attempt targeting the prominent retail chain.
"Naivas is taking legal advice regarding a formal action against the individuals or organisations that are spreading misinformation regarding Naivas. Naivas has a very strict anti-bribery and corruption policy and will not submit to extortionary tactics," added the statement.
On Wednesday, the Nairobi County Assembly’s Health Committee, chaired by Mountain View Member of County Assembly (MCA) Maurice Ochieng, alleged that expired products were discovered on display at one of Naivas’ outlets.
"We have realised that there are expired products which are being put on the shelves, putting Nairobians at risk," he stated.
"Number two, we have come up and found that most of the people who are handling the food are not being tested, so we therefore, as a committee, resolve that we close all the Naivases so that they can be tested and be given certificates."
The closure aims to pressure the supermarket chain into rectifying key issues—specifically, the removal of expired items from shelves and the proper testing and certification of all food handlers.
The Nairobi County Health Committee also urged County Chief Health Officer Susan Silantoi to take swift and decisive action to guarantee that Nairobi residents have access to safe and uncontaminated food.
To ascertain his claims, Ochieng even demonstrated to members of the press a can of yoghurt, which he claimed had expired and had been bought from Naivas.
He further revealed that some items lacked clear expiry dates, warning that such omissions posed a serious health risk to consumers.
