Kenyans in the Karen area, Ngong town, and Kiserian might be consuming unsafe 'njugu'. This comes after roasted groundnuts were among the snacks and food items seized by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) in its latest crackdown on unverified goods.
On Friday, July 25, KEBS intensified its market surveillance efforts, seizing a range of uncertified consumer goods in Karen, Ngong town, and Kiserian.
During the crackdown, KEBS seized roasted nuts, brown sugar, dog food, and animal feeds, which were found unfit for both human and animal consumption.
KEBS found the confiscated goods lacked the mandatory Standardisation Mark (SM), raising concerns over quality and safety. The absence of the SM label indicates that these goods had not undergone essential compliance checks and could pose significant health risks to consumers.
"KEBS Market Surveillance team conducted enforcement operations in Karen, Ngong town, and Kiserian in Kajiado County, seizing uncertified roasted nuts, dog food, brown sugar, and various animal feeds," the bureau stated in its statement.
The groundnuts, which are a popular delicacy on major streets, including in the Nairobi CBD, were found without traceable manufacturing details.
According to KEBS, the operation is part of its continuous efforts to ensure only certified and safe products are available in the market.
Animal feed distributors also faced enforcement action after KEBS teams uncovered bulk sales of feed products without the SM certification.
The officials warned that substandard feed could threaten livestock health and, by extension, compromise food safety standards in the country.
Brown sugar without certification was also seized. KEBS revealed that unverified sugar can contain dangerous contaminants, including excess moisture or adulterants, which may result in serious health issues over time.
KEBS indicated that the lack of traceability made it impossible to verify hygiene practices, ingredient quality, or expiration dates, factors critical to consumer safety.
To ensure that they are consuming safe products, Kenyans have been urged to check the authenticity of what they consume even before buying it.
''Consumers are urged to verify product authenticity by checking for the SM and texting the code to 20023, or by reporting suspicious products via the toll-free line 1545,'' the authority directed.
