For most Kenyans, Naivas is not just a supermarket chain, it’s part of their everyday routine. From quick lunch snacks to monthly shopping, the retailer has woven itself into the rhythm of urban life.
So when social media lit up on 14 May with alarming claims that the retailer was selling expired goods and had been ordered to shut its Nairobi branches, panic spread fast.
Within hours, screenshots circulated, hashtags trended, and worried consumers began to question the safety of the food in their baskets. But as it turns out, the real story was d far less scandalous.
Where it all started
The claims began after the Nairobi County Assembly Health Committee conducted an oversight visit to the Moi Avenue Naivas branch. Following the visit, some members of the committee reportedly recommended the closure of the branch over alleged expired goods.
That recommendation, however, sparked widespread confusion, with many interpreting it as an official directive from Nairobi County authorities.
Naivas swiftly released an official press statement strongly refuting the claims and seeking to clarify the facts for its customers and stakeholders.
No expired products, no closures — Naivas clears the air
In their statement, Naivas emphasized that no expired products were found on their shelves, and reassured customers of their rigorous internal quality control systems.
“We maintain stringent internal quality control and stock management systems across all our branches to ensure product safety and compliance with health regulations,” the statement read.
The supermarket also affirmed that no branch had been closed by any regulatory or health authority, stating all stores remain fully operational and compliant with all county and national standards, including those set by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) and the Ministry of Health.
The management described the online claims as “entirely false, misleading, and potentially harmful” — not only to their brand, but to the public that depends on them for daily essentials. Naivas also announced plans to take legal action against the sources of the misinformation.
The County Government weighs in
To add weight to Naivas’ position, the Nairobi County Government also moved swiftly to distance itself from the shutdown rumors.
In a statement made by Tom Nyakaba, Nairobi’s Chief Officer for Public Health, the County Executive made it clear that it had not ordered the closure of any Naivas outlet. Nyakaba explained that after the oversight visit, the Director of Environmental Health, Anthony Muthemba, conducted an independent review of the Moi Avenue branch.
“The issues raised did not meet the legal threshold for immediate closure,” Nyakaba said.
He stressed that decisions to suspend or close food premises are guided strictly by legal frameworks, especially the Food, Drugs and Chemical Substances Act (Cap 254). Nyakaba reminded the public that any action against a food establishment must follow due process , not political statements or social media noise.
