Probox vehicles will no longer be permitted to deliver meat from the county or other abattoirs to city markets, according to a directive from Nairobi County.
According to City Hall, the move aims to prevent the spread of diseases such as anthrax and curb unhygienic practices ahead of the festive season.
The directive was issued on Thursday by County Chief Officer for Public Health Tom Nyakaba during a citywide market cleaning exercise at Nairobi’s Burma Market, where he stressed that only approved vehicles should transport meat.
“To maintain health standards in meat facilities, we have banned Probox cars from carrying meat. Any approved vehicle should have an identification number that can be traced back to the market. This will help prevent cases like the one we had last week involving anthrax,” Nyakaba said.
He added that while Probox vehicles can still carry passengers, they are no longer permitted to transport meat under any circumstances.
The county also announced that car wash operations outside slaughterhouses, such as the one at Burma Market, will no longer be allowed.
In a simultaneous operation, Nairobi County Public Health officers conducted fumigation and sanitation exercises at Burma Market as part of ongoing efforts to improve food safety and hygiene standards in city meat markets.
During the visit, Nyakaba led a team that inspected stalls, conducted hygiene checks, and met with the market committee and traders to reinforce compliance with public health regulations.
“Today we were at Burma Market to inspect meat facilities and ensure they meet the highest public health standards. As demand for meat rises during the festive season, it is our responsibility to maintain these standards,” Nyakaba added.
The county fumigated and cleaned the market to prevent bacterial contamination while ensuring all meat vendors have valid licenses, and urged traders to ensure that they comply with the licensing and safety requirements.
At the same time, Nyakaba told traders that the Meat Control Act outlines clear standards for handling, transporting, and storing meat, urging full adherence.
Meanwhile, Governor Johnson Sakaja has also directed the deployment of two public health officers at the market to conduct round-the-clock inspections.
