Supermarket apologises after staff hikes price of hand sanitiser amid coronavirus

The clean shelf supermarket management has apologised after one of the staff members hiked the price of Tropikal hand sanitizer amid coronavirus panic in the country.

Through a statement, the Clean shelf management admitted that the hike happened at their Ruaka branch and termed it as an ‘individual error’.

“This was an individual error and the management of cleanshelf, wholly and unreservedly apologises to all our customers. Disciplinary action has already been taken on the staff member” read part of the statement.  

The clean shelf management also advised any customer who will be overcharged for purchasing hand sanitizers should go back to the supermarket branch and get a full refund.

Last week, the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) warned traders against hiking prices on commodities, saying that failure to comply will attract a penalty.

“The Act and will attract a penalty of up to ten per cent of the respective turnover of the manufacturers and retailers in question.”

“It has come to the attention of the Authority that following a pronouncement by the Government of a confirmed Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) case, some manufacturers and retailers are contemplating collusive increases of prices and/or hoarding with the intention of subsequently increasing prices of various consumer goods,” said CAK.

On Sunday March 15, President Uhuru Kenyatta, during a press conference outside his Harambee House office, also warned traders not to take advantage of situation (Coronavirus) to hike prices.

The president also added that any patient that will come into contact with the disease will receive full support to ensure they recover.

"I want to assure all Kenyans that any patient who has come into contact with this disease will be given full support to ensure that they are able to recover.

"As we know, many across the globe have been infected but have also recovered. We are very hopeful with treatment, and we are learning every day. Those in our country who will come into contact with this disease, we are very hopeful and are working very hard to ensure their full recovery," said President Uhuru.