Public Health Mandate

The Nairobi City County government has immediately banned the use of Probox vehicles for transporting meat, a directive issued on Thursday, 13th November 2025, to enforce public health standards and safeguard consumers. Tom Nyakaba, the County Chief Officer for Public Health, announced the ban during a sanitation and inspection exercise at the busy Burma Market. He stated the measure was a direct response to recent health incidents, including a case of anthrax reported the previous week, and aims to prevent the spread of foodborne diseases.

"To maintain health standards in meat facilities, we have banned Probox cars from carrying meat," Nyakaba declared. He emphasized that only specially approved and marked vehicles with traceable identification numbers will be permitted to deliver meat from abattoirs to markets within the county. This regulation is designed to create a secure and accountable supply chain. While Probox vehicles can continue to operate as passenger vehicles, their use for meat transportation is now strictly prohibited under any circumstances.

Regulatory Framework and Enforcement

The county's directive is anchored in the existing Meat Control Act, which outlines the legal standards for handling, transporting, and storing meat. Nyakaba urged all traders and transporters to adhere strictly to these national guidelines, which are often flouted, leading to public health risks. Studies have previously highlighted the potential for microbial contamination in meat sold in Nairobi due to poor handling and transportation practices. The ban is part of a broader initiative by Governor Johnson Sakaja's administration to intensify hygiene inspections across all major city markets, especially with meat demand expected to rise during the upcoming festive season.

To ensure compliance, Governor Sakaja has approved the deployment of two public health officers to be permanently stationed at Burma Market for round-the-clock inspections. In addition to the vehicle ban, the county has also prohibited car wash operations located outside slaughterhouses, another measure aimed at reducing potential sources of contamination. These enforcement actions signal a more aggressive stance on food safety following recent disease outbreaks in the city and other parts of the country.

Impact on Traders and the Meat Supply Chain

The ban on the popular and cost-effective Probox vehicles is expected to have a significant economic impact on small and medium-scale meat traders who rely on them for daily deliveries. The transition to approved, refrigerated, or specially modified vehicles represents a substantial cost that may be prohibitive for many. This could potentially disrupt the meat supply chain to butcheries and eateries across Nairobi, leading to short-term shortages or increased prices for consumers as traders pass on the higher transport costs.

Similar transport bans in other sectors and counties have faced challenges with enforcement and compliance, often due to a lack of affordable alternatives for small-scale business owners. The success of this public health initiative will likely depend on the county's ability to enforce the ban consistently while also potentially supporting traders in transitioning to compliant transportation methods. The move comes amid wider national efforts to crack down on the illegal and unsafe sale of meat to protect the public. The long-term goal is to modernize the city's food distribution systems to meet national and international hygiene standards, thereby boosting consumer confidence and safeguarding public health.