Kenyan consumers are increasingly falling victim to dishonest traders using tampered weighing scales to overcharge for goods, especially in butcheries and grocery stores.
The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has issued warnings, advising buyers to remain vigilant as fake and tampered weighing scales flood the market.
Scams and Deceptive Practices on the Rise
Reports indicate that these fraudulent scales, often sourced cheaply from China, are sold through popular online platforms and back-alley shops along Nairobi’s River Road. These substandard scales, priced as low as Sh4,000, are significantly cheaper than the legally compliant models that typically cost Sh40,000 to Sh160,000. Some traders reportedly manipulate compliant scales with magnets, added weights, or tampered pricing functions to skew measurements, ultimately cheating customers.
Victor, a consumer from Umoja, shared an encounter at a local butchery where he noticed the scale’s reading didn’t reset to zero, instead holding an extra Sh20 in cost after each weigh-in. Other consumers have shared similar experiences, including incorrect price displays and disputes with sellers over weights.
KEBS Urges Compliance and Consumer Vigilance
In response to the mounting issues, KEBS has urged consumers and traders alike to ensure that all weighing scales carry proper certification and are verified with an official stamp. Esther Ngari, the managing director of KEBS, emphasized the importance of quality and fairness in the market, encouraging consumers to inspect scales and report any suspicious devices to the authorities.
Enforcement Challenges
The enforcement of standards is proving to be a challenge. A source from the Weights and Measures Directorate explained that they are understaffed and face limited resources to monitor every establishment using weighing equipment. Additionally, inconsistent coordination between KEBS, the Anti-Counterfeit Authority, and the Weights and Measures Directorate has allowed substandard scales to slip through inspection points, particularly at entry ports.
Consumer Protection Laws and Penalties
Kenya’s Weights and Measures Act, Cap 513, mandates that traders use verified and accurate equipment. Those caught using deceptive devices face fines of up to Sh20,000 or imprisonment for up to three years. The Act allows inspectors to verify and stamp scales annually and gives courts the authority to impose restrictions on offenders, prohibiting them from dealing in goods where deception has occurred.
Moving Forward: A Call for Integrity and Consumer Awareness
While KEBS is dedicated to maintaining product quality in the market, they rely heavily on consumer awareness and proactive reporting to curb fraud. “We invite consumers, traders, and all stakeholders to maintain high vigilance and report any irregularities,” Ngari added.
