Have you ever wondered if that fresh cut or groceries you have bought from your local butchery or store is what you paid for?
Consumers in Kenya are increasingly becoming victims of unscrupulous traders who are stealing their hard-earned money at the weighing scale.
This comes as sub-standard weighing scales continue to flood the Kenyan market, with well known online stores and backstreet shops in Nairobi’s River Road and other areas offering a convenient marketplace for selling these equipment.
“We have a lot of weighing scales coming from China that do not meet the set standards going for as little as Sh4,000 as opposed to the recommended ones which should average Sh40,000 to Sh50,000 and up to Sh160,000 for those being used by big players such as supermarkets,” an official at the State Department for Trade familiar with the trend, told the Star.
For compliant weighing-scales, trickery is being used to sell less weight and at a higher price, an investigation by the star has revealed, even as it emerges the government is unable to inspect all butcheries and stores using these equipment for lack of adequate weights and measures inspectors.
THE TRICKS
Some of the tricks being used include the use of magnets to tamper with the accuracy of a weighing scale or using heavier plates, hence giving the wrong readings in favour of the seller.
Small grammes can also be tied to the weighing scale to dupe the buyer or for the digital scales, some traders set a higher pricing.
“I once noticed at a butchery that when the meat is removed from the scale, the reading still had a reading of Sh20 and zero on the kilogrammes end meaning the scale has been programmed to add the amount for each sale,” Victor, a resident of Umoja said.
Another consumer in an online post said during a past purchase, he was told half a kilogramme ( 500 grammes) of pork was Sh250.
While measuring, he noticed on the price scale, it read Sh315 shillings, and on the weight scale, it read 500 grammes.
“I was confused. I asked him about it and he was so angry and became unnecessarily rude to me, telling me that I am a confused person and was disturbing him. He still wrapped my meat though, and I paid him Sh250. He was angry he was not able to deceive me the way he deceives all his customers,” he said.
Many consumers have fallen prey to this trick, a weights and measures officer who spoke to the Star on condition of anonymity, told the Star, with the influx of sub-standard scales worsening the matter.
There are rampant cases of mis-description of goods, sale of sub-standard and underweight products as well as tampering with prices and calibration knobs at fuel stations. Bakers are also duping customers on the weights of bread.
“We really try hard to ensure everyone is compliant but it is a toll order when you are understaff ed and lack resources including prosecuting off enders,” the officer said.
Lack of coordination between the Kenya National Bureau of Standards (Kebs), Anti-Counterfeit Authority and the Weights and Measures Directorate has also been blamed especially for the entry of sub-standard scales at points of entry (for imports).
NAIROBI LEADS
Butcheries in Nairobi have been named as the worst off enders of the weights and measures laws by selling underweight cuts of meat to consumers.
This is mainly at butcheries within the city’s estates. Kenya’s weights and measures system is based on the International System of Units (SI).
The and Measures directorate works to enforce weight and measures Act cap 513 that deals with the use, manufacture and sale of weight and measures equipment.
It ensures during sale of any commodity, the quantity that you purchase is not less than the quantity that you pay.
Every person who uses or has in his possession or control for use for trade any weight, measure, weighing or measuring instrument which is false or unjust shall be guilty of an offence and the weight, measure, weighing or measuring instrument shall be liable to be forfeited.
The law provides that an inspector shall, not more often than once in every year call upon persons in any area having weights, measures, weighing or measuring instruments in use for trade to produce the same for the purpose of their being examined, verified, stamped or re-stamped at such time and place within that area as he may appoint.
Any person guilty of an offence under this Act shall be liable to a fine not exceeding twenty thousand shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to both.
Where any person has been convicted of an offence under this Act, the court convicting him may, in addition to any other penalty to which the convicted person may be liable, make such order as the Court thinks fit to prevent the person from continuing to deal with or in the same goods or articles in respect of which the offence was committed.
KEBS
While Kebs did not confirm or deny the influx of sub-standard weighing scales in the Kenyan market, the standards body said it remains dedicated to ensuring all products in the market comply with established standards under the Standards Act Cap 496.
“ While Kebs diligently monitors product quality, it is important to note offences related to the fraudulent use of weights, measures, or weighing instruments are addressed under the Weights and Measures Act, Cap 513, Section 23,” management told the Star.
Director of weights John Wamwana did not respond to inquiries by the Star.
BE VIGILANT
Kebs has since called on consumers and traders to ensure all weighing scales they purchase, or sell are certified and bear a valid stamp of verification.
Consumers must also remain vigilant, the standards body said.
“Consumers are encouraged to verify the compliance of weighing scales before making a purchase and to report any suspicious or non-compliant products to the appropriate authorities. KEBS is dedicated to fostering a market environment where quality and fairness are paramount,” managing director Esther Ngari said.
“We invite consumers, traders,
and all stakeholders to remain vigilant and proactive in their efforts
to uphold these standards and to
report any concerning activities
they may encounter in the market.”
