TRADE DEPARTMENT UNDERTAKES CONSUMER PROTECTION EXCERCISE

The department of Tourism Trade, Cooperative, Industrialization, and Enterprise Development, County Government of Isiolo has today embarked on a Weights and Measures exercise in Isiolo town. This is informed by need to enhance consumer protection and fair trade practices in the County.

Some of the crucial activities that will be conducted include; verification of weighing and measuring instruments used for trade, pre-packaged control, and possible prosecution of offenders.

Today's launch was led by County Executive Committee member(CEC) for Tourism, Trade, Cooperative, Industrialization, and Enterprise Development Madam Halima Abgudo, and Lucy Kaburu Chief Officer for Trade, Industrialization and Enterprise Development. They were joined by officers attached at the weight, unit, and measures.

Speaking during the launch, the CECm stated that the County Government generates revenue from Isiolo traders in terms of licenses and other business levies. She further noted it’s the mandate of the County Government to enhance consumer protection and fair trade practices.

"It’s the responsibility of the County Government to safeguard the rights of the members of the public by ensuring that whatever they are buying is of the right units and measurement for the value of their monies,” Madam Abgudo said.

CEC Abgudo however regretted that the verification excise is supposed to be done annually but COVID-19 outbreak interrupted it last year.

On her part Lucy Kaburu observed that the verification exercise is in line with weight and measure Act cap 513 of the Constitution of Kenya. She also called upon all traders to avail themselves and ensure their weighing machines have been verified by trade officers from the County Government who will be visiting their business premises.

"The mission of the Weights and Measures Department is to facilitate fair trade by ensuring use of accurate weighing and measuring equipment, promoting fair business practices and protecting our consumers against exploitation," Lucy Said adding that the officers will be visiting traders in their respective areas to establish if weighing machines are up-to standard and in case they are worn out authorized officers will assist in repairing them and stamping to show the machine are to the right standards"

She also reminded the traders that at later dates the department will take legal action against traders who will be using weighing machines which have not been verified and stamped. In today's exercise officers visited several businesses in town; petrol stations, supermarkets, butcheries, and shops.