How State plans to tame rogue supermarkets

Nakumatt City Hall branch in Nairobi. [Photo: File, Standard]

From outside, the sight of a leading retail brand might tell a story of might, profits and a booming consumerism. However, beyond that glittering façade of leading supermarkets, proprietors have adopted the dukawala mentality where they spend the daily collections as petty cash at the expense of the suppliers.

At the peak of its glory days, one of Kenya’s oldest retailers, Uchumi Supermarkets, could count Sh4.3 million in daily sales from its Sarit Centre branch. Every close of month, the branch, located in Westlands, Nairobi, could bank about Sh130 million. The retailer had more than 25 branches with ambitions to dominate the East African space.