The standoff between Naivas Supermarket and the Nairobi City County Assembly has escalated, with Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) now threatening legal action over alleged defamation by the retail chain.
In a statement issued Wednesday evening, the Chairperson of the Nairobi County Assembly Health Committee strongly refuted claims that the committee engaged in extortion and bribery during a recent inspection of Naivas branches in Nairobi.
“Your accusations of extortion and bribery against the Health Committee are baseless and lack evidence. Such claims appear designed to tarnish the reputation of MCAs and undermine our ability to perform our duties without fear of intimidation,” the statement read.
The Committee has urged Naivas to report any alleged corruption to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) or the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for independent investigation.
“Allegations of extortion without a police report or any evidence amount to blackmail by Naivas, which must stop immediately,” the chairperson added. “Failure to comply will compel the Nairobi County Assembly to seek legal redress for defamation and obstruction of oversight duties.”
This comes after Naivas Supermarket issued a public statement denying claims circulating on social media and in some media outlets that the retail chain had been selling expired products. The supermarket also dismissed reports that county health officials had ordered the closure of its branches in Nairobi.
In its statement, Naivas described the claims as “false, misleading, and potentially harmful,” assuring customers that all products sold in its stores meet strict health and safety standards.
“No expired products have been found on our shelves, and we maintain rigorous internal quality control and stock management systems across all our branches,” the company said.
Naivas further clarified that no branch had been shut down by the Nairobi County Government and accused unnamed individuals of attempting to damage its reputation. The retailer stated it is seeking legal advice and may take formal action against those spreading the allegations.
“Naivas has a strict anti-bribery and corruption policy and will not submit to extortionary tactics,” the statement added.
The supermarket chain, one of the largest in Kenya, reaffirmed its commitment to food safety, staff certification, and ethical business practices. It urged customers to disregard the misinformation and continue shopping with confidence.
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