Nairobi County Releases Inspection Timetable for Weighing Instruments

Nairobi, Kenya — 2025-09-19 17:00 EAT. Business owners in Nairobi must present their weighing and measuring instruments for verification as the county rolls out a multi-week inspection and stamping exercise across all sub-counties.

The Latest

• Timetable Released: Nairobi City County on September 19 issued a detailed schedule covering police stations, social halls, chiefs’ offices, shopping centres and county offices across Westlands, Kibra, Dagoretti, Langata, Roysambu, Kasarani and Embakasi.

• Deadline: Inspections run from August through November 2025.

• Compliance: Mandatory under the Weights and Measures Act to protect consumers from fraudulent weighing practices.

Context in Brief

Weighing and measuring equipment must be periodically verified by county officials to ensure accuracy and fairness in trade.

• Instruments above 500 kg capacity will be tested at their current locations because of logistical challenges.

• Owners must notify the County Director of Weights and Measures at least three days before inspection.

• Past crackdowns have uncovered businesses using faulty or tampered scales to cheat customers.

Law, Policy & Process

• Legal Framework: Weights and Measures Act, Cap 513 Laws of Kenya.

• Mandate: Counties oversee inspection, calibration and stamping of weighing devices.

• Penalties: Non-compliance attracts fines or closure orders for repeat offenders.

Voices & Stakeholders

• County Officials: Urge traders to comply fully, warning of penalties for defaulters.

• Consumer Groups: Welcome the move, citing previous complaints over inaccurate scales.

• Traders: Call for adequate notice and fair inspection fees.

Evidence & Data

• Dates & Locations:

  • Kasarani: Sept 3–22

  • Roysambu: Zimmerman Chief’s Office (Sept 23), Lumumba Drive (Sept 24), Marurui Chief’s Office (Sept 25)〕.

  • Langata, Kibra, Starehe, Westlands, Dagoretti: October–November schedule pending publication.

Risks & Implications

• Non-Compliance: Businesses risk penalties, reputational damage and possible closure.

• Consumer Protection: Accurate scales prevent price manipulation in markets.

• Economic Impact: Fair trade practices strengthen buyer confidence and revenue collection.

What We Don’t Know

• Will the county introduce digital verification records?

• How many instruments fail inspection annually?

• Are inspection fees uniform across all sub-counties?

Timeline

• 2025-08–11: Inspections launched in Kasarani and Roysambu.

• 2025-09-19: County issues full timetable notice.

• 2025-10–11: Remaining sub-counties scheduled.

What to Watch

• Whether the county expands inspections beyond the initial 20-km radius.

• Publication of inspection results and enforcement actions.

• Possible integration with digital weights-and-measures platforms.