CHALLENGES FACING THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY ON LEGAL METROLOGY: 
THE CASE OF MERU MUNICIPALITY, KENYA. 
BY 
NJIHIA FLORENCE WANJIRU 
WChalir Or 
yiKUYU, LIBRARY 
A RESEARCH REPORT PRESENTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR AWARD 
OF THE DEGREE OF MASTERS OF ARTS IN PROJECT PLANNING AND 
MANAGEMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI 
2012 
DECLARATION 
This research project report is my original work and has not been submitted to any other 
university for a degree or any other award. 
Signed:. Date: ?4\ (J-2PLL 
Njihia Florence Wanjiru 
L50/66237/2010 
The research project report has been presented for examination with my approval as the 
university supervisor. 
Signed: Date: 
[ c* ( 2^3 1 
DR.CHRISTOPHER GAKUO 
Senior Lecturer 
Department of extra mural studies 
University of Nairobi 
ii 
DEDICATION 
This work is dedicated to my parents Mr. and Mrs. Njihia, my brothers Benson and Geoffrey, 
my sister Tabitha and my daughter faith for their support and encouragement. 
i i i 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 
I would like to thank the Almighty for giving me the chance to take this course. 
I would also like to thank my Supervisor Dr Gakuo for the guidance and assistance during the 
research. 
I would like to thank my colleagues at weights and measures Meru for their support and 
encouragement during the study 
Lastly I would like to thank my fellow students for the support and the entire staff of Meru 
extra-mural centre Nairobi University for their coordination and cooperation that made my time 
in the university a time to enjoy and not regret. 
iv 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
PAGES 
DECLARATION ii 
DEDICATION iii 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iv 
LIST OF TABLES x 
LIST OF FIGURES xii 
ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS xiii 
ABSTRACT xiv 
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1 
««VtH6IIV OF NAKW. 
TSKUYU libq*»" 
1.1 Background of the study 1 
1.2 Problem statement 2 
1.3 Purpose of the study 3 
1.40bjectives of the study 3 
1.5 Research questions 3 
1.6 Significance of the study 4 
1.7 Delimitation of the study 4 
1.8 Limitation of the study 5 
1.9 Assumptions of the study 5 
1.10 Definition of terms 5 
1.11 Organization of the study 6 
v 
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 7 
2.1 Introduction 7 
2.2Historical background for Metrology 7 
2.3 Metrology in the 20th Century 9 
2.3.1 Scientific Metrology 9 
2.3.2 Legal Metrology 9 
2.4 Weighing and measuring 10 
2.5 Operation of electronic weighing and measuring instrument on legal metrology 12 
2.5.1 Technology and measuring instruments 13 
2.5.2 Industrial automation - electronic weighing 14 
2.5.3 IT and legal metrology 14 
2.6 Knowledge as the Source of Business Value 15 
2.7 Trade/business in relation to weights and measuring instrument 16 
2.7.1 New Dimensions in Business Space 16 
2.8 Standardization of weights and measuring instruments 16 
2.9 Training and legal metrology 17 
2.10 Conceptual Framework 17 
2.11 Summary of Literature Review 20 
CHAPTER THREE:RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 21 
3.1 Introduction 21 
3.2 Research design 21 
vi 
3.3 Target population 21 
3.4 Sampling and sample size 21 
3.4.1 Table I: sampling frame showing distribution of target respondents 22 
3.5 Data Collection Instruments 23 
3.5.1 Questionnaires 23 
3.5.2 Interviews Schedule 23 
3.5.3 Observation 23 
3.6 Data Collection Procedure 24 
3.7 instruments Reliability 24 
3.8 instruments Validity 24 
3.9 Data analysis 24 
3.10 Operatinalization of variables 25 
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND 
INTERPRETATION 29 
4.1 Introduction 29 
4.2 Weights and measures officers responses 29 
4.2.1 Gender of respondents 29 
4.2.2 Level of education of respondents 30 
4.2.3Number of years in service 30 
4.2.4 Training opportunities 31 
4.2.5 Challenges faced due to introduction of electronic equipments 31 
vii 
4.3 Weighing and Measures repairer's responses 32 
4.3.1 Gender 32 
4.3.2 Education level 33 
4.3.3Period of service 33 
4.3.4 License 34 
4.3.5 Training opportunities 35 
4.3.6 Training institution 36 
4.3.7 Challenges encountered 36 
4.3.8 Challenges due to use of electronic weighing and measuring equipments 37 
4.4 Traders responses 37 
4.4.1 Gender 37 
4.4.2 Education level 38 
4.4.3 Business location 38 
4.4.4 Type of business 38 
4.4.5 Use of weighing/measuring equipment 39 
4.4.6 Type of equipment 39 
4.4.7 Knowledge on use of equipment 40 
4.4.8 Number of repair per year 41 
4.4.9 Training and seminar 41 
4.4.10 Challenges due to use of electronic/digital weighing and measuring equipment....42 
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, DISCUSSIONS, CONCLUSIONS AND 
RECOMMENDATIONS 44 
5.1 Introduction 44 
5.2 Summary of the findings 44 
5.2.1 General information 44 
5.2.2 Cost of digital/electronic weighing and measuring instruments versus legal 
metrology 45 
5.2.30peration of electronic weighing and measuring instruments versus legal 
Metrology 45 
5.2.4 Training on electronic weighing and measuring instruments versus legal 
Metrology 45 
5.2.5 Standardization of electronic weighing and measuring instruments 
Versus legal metrology 45 
5.3Discussions 46 
5.3.1 Cost of digital/electronic weighing and measuring instruments versus 
legal metrology 46 
5.3.2 Operation of electronic weighing and measuring instruments versus 
legal metrology 47 
5.3.3 Training on electronic weighing and measuring instruments versus legal 
Metrology 47 
5.3.4 Standardization of electronic weighing and measuring instruments versus 
Legal metrology 48 
5.4 Conclusions 48 
5.5 Recommendations 50 
5.6 Areas for further researches 50 
REFERENCES 51 
APPENDICES: 55 
Appendix 1: Introductory letter 55 
Appendix II: Questionnaires 56 
Appendix III: observation schedule 62 
Appendix III: Sample size determination 63 
ix 
LIST OF TABLES 
Table 3.1: Distribution of target respondents 22 
Table 3.2: Operationalization of variables 29 
Table 4.1 Gender analysis of the weights and measures officers 29 
Table 4.2 Education level of weights and measures officers 30 
Table 4.3 Number of years in service for weights and measures officers 30 
Table 4.4. Relationship between performance of legal metrology duties and conversancy 
of the legal metrology requirements 31 
Table 4.5 Relationship between number of years in service and training opportunity on 
weights and measures requirements 31 
Table 4.6 Cross tabulation between challenges and standardization problem impacting 
on legal metrology negatively 31 
Table 4.7 Gender of weights and measures repairer's 32 
Table 4.8 Education level of repairer's 33 
Table 4.9 Period of years working as a repairer 33 
Table 4.10 License types of the repairers 34 
Table 4.11 Training opportunities for weights and measures repairers 35 
Table 4.12 Cross tabulation between training opportunities and number of years in 
Service 35 
x 
Table 4.13 training institutions on electronic weighing/measuring instruments 
In meru municipality 36 
Table 4.14 General challenges encountered by repairers 36 
Table 4.15 Cross tabulation between challenges faced by repairers due to use of 
Electronic weighing equipment and lack of training opportunity 37 
Table 4.16 Gender of traders who responded to the questionnaires 37 
Table 4.17 Education level of traders 38 
JNIV£P6ITY OF NAIHW* 
Table 4.18 Type of business of traders ':!?!!!* 38 
Table 4.19 Table showing the whether the respondent uses weighing/measuring 
Instrument 39 
Table 4.20 Type of weighing /measuring instrument that the respondent uses 39 
Table 4.21 Relationship between the profits earned per day and the type of weighing 
equipment used 40 
Table 4.22 Repair for weighing/measuring instrument in a year by the users 41 
Table 4.23training and seminar attained and attended by the respondents 41 
Table 4.24 Challenges experienced by the respondent due to introduction and use of electronic 
weighing/measuring instruments 42 
Table 4.25 Cross tabulation of various challenges and there impact on legal metrology 43 
xi 
LIST OF FIGURES 
Figure 1: Conceptual Framework. 19 
x i i 
ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS 
AFM - Arab Federation for Metrology 
BAT - British America Tobacco 
CC - Common Criteria 
ICT - Information and Communication Technology 
IT - Information and Technology 
CIPM International Committee of Weights and Measures 
BIPM - International Bureau of Weights and Measures 
KIBT - Kenya institute of Business Training 
KIPI - Kenya Industrial Property Institute 
KTDA - Kenya Tea Development Agency 
NIS -OIA - NIS Office of international affairs 
NMI's - National Measurement Institutes 
O.I.M.L - International Organization for Legal metrology 
R & D - Research and Development 
VIML - International Vocabulary of Legal Metrology 
xiii 
ABSTRACT 
The study will be investigating the challenges facing the use of technology in legal metrology, 
the case of Meru municipality, Kenya. The study will be guided by the following objectives: To 
establish the influence of cost of digital/electronic weighing and measuring instruments on legal 
metrology; to assess the influence of operation of electronic weighing and measuring 
instruments on legal metrology; to establish the extent to which technical know-how and 
training on electronic weighing and measuring instruments influence legal metrology; to 
establish how standardization of electronic weighing and measuring instruments influence legal 
metrology. The study will target traders, weights and measures officers, licensed weights and 
measures repairers in Meru region from Meru Municipality. The researcher will use stratified 
random sampling procedure and then adopt descriptive research design. The data will be 
gathered from the traders in Meru, weights and measures Officers in Meru region and of Meru 
Municipality, through questionnaires structured on the basis of the objectives of this study. Data 
required for analysis will be collected from the respondents and analyzed using Statistical 
Packages for Social Service. The findings of the study will be significant to the Government of 
Kenya, various stakeholders, weights and measures department staff of Meru Municipality. 
xiv 
CHAPTER ONE 
INTRODUCTION 
1.1 Background of the study 
Trade and industrial activities in the county are today increasingly being influenced by external 
factors of globalization consequently, there is mountain pressure on governments in developing 
countries to embrace outward oriented development polices. The core objective of the 
Government is to put in place policies that would restore economic growth and reduce poverty 
through employment and wealth creation articulated in the Economic Recovery strategy for 
wealth and Employment creation (ERS, 2003-2007). 
Dunhill, BIML Assistant Director: Confidence is a major issue for domestic and international 
trade. Suppliers and buyers conclude a transaction based on a common agreement on the goods, 
products or services that are sold and these calls for an agreement on the quantity and quality of 
these goods, products or services. All this is based on measurements which are necessarily 
conducted by one party to the transaction - legal metrology aims to ensure that the other party 
may have confidence in them. 
The measurement facilities are very often automated so that performing the measurements may 
be done by operators who are not specialists. Therefore, confidence in the measurement results 
derives principally from the ability of the equipment to deliver correct measurements under 
variable measurement and environmental conditions, and from the ability of this equipment to be 
insensitive to operator errors and to tampering. 
This is why many of these measurements fall under the expanding scope of legal metrology, 
which aims to set up appropriate requirements and controls on the equipment to ensure that the 
equipment shows the ability mentioned above and that it will therefore provide appropriate 
confidence in the measurement results. 
Without such confidence, trade would be subject to multiple measurements carried out at the 
initiative of each party to the transaction, creating disputes due to differences in measurements. 
The additional cost of such multiple measurements and of solving these disputes would 
considerably affect the efficiency of trade and jeopardize the economy. Legal metrology is 
therefore an essential tool in ensuring fair trade and for the efficiency of an economy. 
1 
Today, we are living in a chaotic transition period to a new age defined by global competition, 
rampant change, faster flow of information and communication, increasing business complexity, 
and pervasive globalization. The pace of change has become so rapid that it took a different type 
of firms to be dominant and marked entirely new era of business. This new environment is also 
characterized by "more far-reaching technological advances, and a consumer who has adjusted to 
this quicker pace and whose fickle preferences are revised with the speed of a television 
commercial." (The Center less Corporation, by Bruce A. Pasternak and Albert. J. Viscio) 
Today's growth era produces huge discontinuities, creates new industries and destroys old ones, 
and accelerates global economic growth in the process. "Expectations are rising everywhere; 
human creativity is flowering in every field. Emerging economies are industrializing, and 
everyone is joining the digital revolution of boundless information and seamless electronic 
commerce. The ideas, technologies and capital to satisfy new needs flow freely." (Every 
Business is a Growth Business", Ram Charan and Noel. M. Tichy) 
1.2 Problem statement 
Metrology is the name given to the science of measurements. Legal Metrology may be briefly 
defined as the process of making measurements under conditions dictated by statutes. In this age 
of rapid technological change, growing competition and expanding trade, measurement standards 
and techniques have been recognized as fundamental elements. Indeed a sound legal metrology 
system is an essential cog in the economic well-being of any country. According to Kiarie, 
(2006), the importance of science of measurement (metrology) cannot be gainsaid. There is no 
life without measurement. Though metrology includes different aspects such as scientific, 
industrial and legal, I will concentrate on legal metrology which is otherwise known as trade 
metrology. The study will focus on challenges that are being faced by different stakeholders in 
the field of trade due to introduction and use of electronic/digital instruments to weigh and 
measure goods. 
We may rarely think about metrology the science of measurement, but it is indeed fundamental 
to both our personal lives and to our economic prosperity of our country. Accurate measurement 
is absolutely essential in industry: components produced and assembled in different sites need to 
fit exactly; technical regulations and most written standards depend on measurement; and good 
measurement significantly increases the value, acceptance and quality of a product or service. 
2 
According to Kamau, (2006), metrology is classified in three main fields: scientific metrology, 
industrial metrology and legal metrology. Legal metrology is part of metrology which is subject 
to legal or regulatory control. Legal metrology concern itself with measurement, units of 
measurement, measuring instrument and methods of measurement which are performed by any 
competent government body or organization. 
Beard. NRCS, South Africa (2011) explained the main function of a legal metrology system 
being to provide reliable conformity assessment of regulated products so that regulations can be 
enforced. Legal metrology brings credible measurements to health, safety, protection of the 
environment and law enforcement; provides a level playing field for commercial and economic 
growth; promotes international trade by bringing confidence to measurements; enables the 
accurate collection of government taxes; brings the full national benefit from commodity 
exports; and reduces fraud and disputation costs. 
In Kenya legal metrology is the responsibility of the weights and measures department under the 
ministry of trade. Though metrology includes different aspects such as scientific, industrial and 
legal, the researcher will concentrate on legal metrology otherwise known as trade metrology or 
metrology of transactions. Wambua 2010 on his paper on effect of technology of weighing scales 
on small and medium enterprises recommended a research on the challenges of electronic scales 
on small and medium enterprises. 
Many factories and even individuals have turned to digital/electronic weighing and measuring 
instruments, but they are facing various challenges. It is against this background that the 
researcher seeks to assess the challenges of use of technology on legal metrology. 
1.3 Purpose of the study 
The purpose of this study is to identify the challenges that have come with the use and 
introduction of weighing and measuring instruments and how this affects legal metrology. 
1.4 Objectives of the study 
The following are the objectives of the study: 
i) To establish the influence of cost of digital/electronic weighing and measuring 
instruments on legal metrology. 
3 
ii) To assess the influence of operation of electronic weighing and measuring instruments on 
legal metrology. 
iii) To establish the extent to which technical know-how and training on electronic weighing 
and measuring instruments influence legal metrology. 
iv) To establish how standardization of electronic weighing and measuring instruments 
influence legal metrology. 
1.5 Research questions 
i) How does the cost of electronic weighing and measuring instruments affect legal 
metrology? 
ii) To what extent does the operation of electronic weighing and measuring instrument 
on legal metrology? 
iii) How does technical know-how and training on electronic/digital weighing 
instrument affect legal metrology? 
iv) To what extent does standardization of electronic weighing and measuring 
instruments affect legal metrology? 
1.6 Significance of the study 
The study will provide useful information and knowledge to the Government, various 
stakeholders in the use and maintenance of electronic scales. It will help the existing technicians 
of weighing machines of searching for new knowledge on how the machines work as well as go 
hand in hand with the technology. The study will also help the weights and measures department 
staff on how to solve the challenge of coping with global and technology changes. 
The study will make contribution to existing body of knowledge of bringing to the country spare 
parts for the electronic weighing scales which are overtaking the manual ones as well as the 
measuring instruments especially the electronic/digital dispensing pumps. 
1.7 Delimitation of the study 
The study will focus on traders who engage in selling goods and services by way of weighing or 
measuring within Meru municipality, this will include kiosk owners, petrol stations and various 
4 
factories and societies. The study will also focus on the weights and measures officers in the area 
as well as the authorized weights and measures technicians within the Meru municipality. The 
study seeks to investigate the challenges of technology changes on legal metrology, trade and 
economy within Meru municipality. 
1.8 Limitation of the study 
Financial and time constraints are the anticipated challenges during the study. Another challenge 
that might affect the study is the language barrier as the researcher does not come from the 
community. This will be solved by use of an interpreter. 
1.9 Assumptions of the study 
Respondents will answer questions accurately and correctly. All business owners, weights and 
measures technicians and officers will be available. 
1.10 Definition of significant terms 
Weighing instrument - includes all instruments constructed to calculate and 
indicate prices, compute wages, count or grade articles by use of weighing principles, together 
with all weights and counterpoises belonging thereto. 
Measuring instrument - includes every instrument for the measurement of length, 
width, height, area, size, volume, capacity, weight and number. 
Use for trade - the transaction is by reference to quantity or is a transaction for 
purposes of which there is made or implied statement of the quantity of goods to which the 
transaction relates and the use is for purpose of determination or statement of that quantity. 
Repairer - means a person licensed to engage in repair or overhauling of weights, 
measure or instruments. 
To repair - includes making any adjustment to any weight, measure or instrument 
other than adjustment of the balance arrangement which is required under the weights and 
measures rule in respect of specified types of weighing instruments. 
(Laws of Kenya, weights and measures act chapter 513, Revised Edition 1993) 
Metrology - is the name given to the science of measurements. 
5 
Legal Metrology - may be briefly defined as the process of making measurements 
under conditions dictated by statutes. 
1.11 Organization of the study 
The study is organized into five chapters. Chapter one is the introduction of the study, chapter 
two is the literature review, chapter three deals with the research methodology that were used in 
the study, chapter four shows data presentation, analysis and interpretation of the data collected 
during the study and chapter five gives the summary of findings, discussions of results, 
conclusions and recommendations made by the res 
6 
CHAPTER TWO 
LITERATURE REVIEW 
2.1 Introduction 
This chapter focuses on literature conducted by various persons on different topics; this includes 
weighing and measuring, economy, trade as well as the technological changes. It also shows 
studies done on challenges of technology changes to organizations. 
2.2 Historical background for Metrology 
Legal metrology developed over 5000 years ago with the development of civilizations that 
required consistency of a wide range of measurements used in everyday life. These included; 
Time and the calendar, Distance and area, Weights and measures. The relationship between the 
State and metrology was symbiotic. The State needed measurements to provide the information 
necessary to organize, plan, defend and tax with efficiency. Such accounting depended on 
uniform measurements across wide geographical areas and across a broad spectrum of farming 
and manufacturing practices and work organization. Metrology on the other hand required the 
mandate of the State to ensure conformity to measurement requirements (Kenneth, 1974) 
As well as being a user of metrology the State was also required to provide the necessary trust 
and confidence in measurement by mandatory standards and requirements. This ensured the 
integrity of commerce and was realized by the State decreeing and enforcing measurement 
standards and requirements and controlling fraud to underpin market transactions. 
In metrology confidence is generally used to indicate the extent to which the technical 
requirements for consistency have been met, trust relates to the normative relationship between 
parties to a transaction. Kenneth Arrow the Nobel laureate in Economics has written extensively 
about the importance of trust in economic transactions and the two following quotations from his 
publications highlight aspects of this concept. "Virtually every commercial transaction has 
within itself an element of trust, certainly any transaction conducted over a period of time. It can 
be plausibly argued that much of the economic backwardness in the world can be explained by 
the lack of mutual confidence;" (Kenneth, 1974) "Now trust has a very important pragmatic 
value, if nothing else. Trust is an important lubricant of a social system. It is extremely efficient; 
it saves a lot of trouble to have a fair degree of reliance on other people's word. Unfortunately 
7 
according to Wayne Stiegel, (1973) this is not a commodity that can be bought very easily. If 
you have to buy it, you already have some doubts about what you have bought. Trust and similar 
values, loyalty or truth-telling, are examples of what the economists would call "externalities." 
They are goods, they are commodities; they have real, practical, economic value; they increase 
the efficiency of the system, enable you to produce more goods or more of whatever values you 
hold in high esteem. But they are not commodities for which trade on the open market is 
technically possible or even meaningful." (Kenneth, 1972). 
China well illustrates this traditional relationship between the State and metrology. During the 
Shang Dynasty some 3500 years ago a system of standard measuring instruments for length, 
mass and capacity was established. A State organization with special officials was assigned 
responsibility for checking the accuracy of these instruments twice a year. As well as trade in 
commodities these standards were also mandatory for the production of weapons, vehicles, and a 
wide range of handicrafts and the construction of buildings. With the development of the modern 
State royal decrees and moral precepts were replaced by Weights and Measures legislation which 
gave legislative force to the rules of the measurement system and established enforcement 
mechanisms to ensure compliance. This provided the trust in the system, ensured consistency of 
measurement and established the foundation for what we now describe as legal metrology. What 
is clear from the history of metrology is that its development was driven by a need of the State 
for information. Where the State was strong the need, particularly by the bureaucracy, was 
greatest and there was a strong commitment to the metrology system. As the State declined 
metrology declined with it and over the centuries the national metrology systems have ebbed and 
flowed with the power of the State. 
France at the time of the Revolution, where non-uniformity of measures was upheld as a feudal 
right, illustrates this problem of metrological fragmentation. Over 800 differently named 
measures and untold units of the same name ensured inconsistency of measures, fraud and 
constant disputation. Hence the overwhelming demands at the meeting of the Estates General in 
Paris in 1789 for the establishment of a uniform system of weights and measures, out of which 
grew the metric system. 
8 
2.3 Metrology in the 20th Century 
23.1 Scientific Metrology 
The late 19th century saw a marked increase in international trade and metrology responded to 
this with initiatives to enhance the global consistency of measurements. The 1875 Treaty of the 
Meter with its aim of "international uniformity and precision in standards of weights and 
measures" was the most significant of these metrological initiatives and it resulted in the 
establishment of the International Committee of Weights and Measures (CIPM) and the 
establishment of National Measurement Institutes (NMI's) in the developed nations to maintain 
national standards of measurement and provide traceability to these standards. This was to 
provide one of the necessary infrastructures for the development of science and technology 
throughout the century. In this regard the National Academy of Sciences (US) commented; 
(National Academy of Sciences, 1979) "precise measurement is the hallmark of the remarkable 
advancement in understanding the physical universe in modern times" 
Whilst the Treaty of the Meter was originally focused on measurement of length and mass, the 
physical quantities of the weights and measures system, it 's scope was extended in the 20th 
century to measurement of electricity (1927), photometry and radiometry (1937), ionizing 
radiation (1960) and to time scales (1988) and a degree of coherence in the measurement system 
was established by the adoption in 1960 by the 11TH CGPM of the International System of Units 
(SI). 
2.3.2 Legal Metrology 
One institutional aspect of the development of metrology in the 20th century was the separation 
of metrology in many countries into scientific metrology, led by the NMI's, and practical or legal 
metrology, administered by weights and measures authorities, which continued to provided a 
legislative basis for measurements and measuring instruments when used for legal purposes, and 
supported the development of domestic and international trade and a wide range of government 
regulations. This division was eventually formalized in the two International metrology treaties. 
Technological change also facilitated the development of a wide range of new measuring 
instruments and processes and a massive expansion in the scope of metrology. Metrology 
responded to these changes with the development of a range of new control mechanism that 
complemented traceability and were designed to maintain confidence in the integrity of the 
9 
measurement system. These included: Introduction from the late nineteenth century of national 
pattern approval requirements and certification of trade measurement instruments to ensure 
fitness for purpose; Introduction from 1947 of accreditation of calibration and testing facilities to 
ensure confidence in measurement capability; Development of national and international 
documentary standards for measuring instruments and processes which ensured greater 
consistency of measurement (Barry, 1977); Development of the SI system of units of 
measurement, which replaced a multiplicity of national, craft and industry units. 
The need to ensure international consistency of trade and regulatory measurements, and to 
"resolve internationally the technical and administrative problems raised by the use of measuring 
instruments", led to the establishment in 1955 of a second metrology .Treaty organization, the 
International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML). Originally focused on trade metrology, 
the rapid expansion in the use by governments of regulatory measurements has seen OIML 
become increasingly involved in establishing international requirements for a wide range of 
environmental, occupational health and safety and medical measurements. 
Legal metrology comprises both regulated measurements conducted by private individuals and 
controlled by a State authority e.g. trade metrology and regulated measurements conducted by 
State authorities e.g. environmental & traffic control etc. As each of these types of legal 
metrology has distinctive costs and benefits .report (Raymond, 1972-75). 
2.4 Weighing and measuring 
Ngatia (2001), Director of weights and measures department, said that assessment by weighing 
and measuring is a prime necessity of life in a human society. It is essential to the making and 
exchange of goods, to erection of building and to the devices of transport. There is no trade or 
industry of human beings which does not tend to depend on it, no dealing in property which is 
not defined by it. Without it there is no civilization, no society but the primordial. It is the first 
essential tool of materials creation and the private and public economy depends on it. The 
accuracy of weights and measures therefore becomes a first duty of any government, for the right 
people by john A. O'Keefe. 
According to Kamau (2006), acting director of weights and measures department, the use of 
inaccurate weighing and measuring instruments is expressly prohibited by the law. This is due to 
the fact that inaccuracies in weighing and measuring instruments may cause serious economic 
loss to the consumer. Without the metrology control of weighing and measuring instruments 
afforded by the law, economic loss to the consumers due to inaccuracies in the weighing and 
measuring instruments would be colossal. The economic wellbeing of the consumer or purchaser 
is likely to be exploited in respect of quality and quantity thereby denying him the maximum 
economic benefits from his or her hard earned money. 
Ministry of trade has the mandate of empowering people through growth in agriculture and trade. 
The ministry is sub-divided into various departments which ensure facilitation of trade in our 
country. The departments includes; internal trade, external trade, weights and measures, KIBT, 
and KIPI. It also works hand in hand with the ministry of industry which encourages MSE'S 
growth in the country. 
The department of weights and measures ensures accuracy in trade measurement through 
enforcement of the weights and measures act, cap513 Of the laws of Kenya. The department 
ensures that all weights, weighing and measuring instruments in use for trade in Kenya must be 
of a pattern approved by the director. This is undertaken to ensure that all equipment upon which 
trade transaction are carried out are accurate and can be relied upon by the transacting parties. 
The department, being the legal metrology standardization body for this country is a member of 
the international organization of legal metrology (O.I.M.L). tfHcuYu'iMAft^""*' 
Richard, BIPM, 2011 accurate measuring of mass and volume in Africa affects almost any 
product traded in the continent, whether domestically or internationally. Oil, minerals, 
pharmaceuticals, fresh fruits and vegetables require accurate measurements to determine their 
purity, specific content and bulk weight. The calibration and control of pumps, balances and 
meters ensure that customers get what they pay for and protect their purchasing power. 
The Metrological Supervision [VIML 2.3] " control exercised in respect of the manufacture, 
import, installation, use, maintenance and repair of measuring instruments, performed in order to 
check that they are used correctly as regards the observance of metrological laws and 
regulations". It includes checking the correctness of the quantities indicated on and contained in 
prepackages. The government understands that this is a sensitive area upon which the economy 
of this county is hinged and has thus put in place rules and regulations governing the repair and 
overhaul of weighting equipment for trade use. 
The department is also responsible of monitoring and issuing of licenses to repairers of the 
11 
weighing and measuring instruments after certifying that they are able to perform the work. The 
licenses are renewed every year to ensure accountability as well as good performance in the 
field; this ensures that only those who are qualified for the repair works serve the wananchi. 
EL Sayed, head of the NIS Office of international affairs (NIS-OIA) and Assistant Secretary 
General of Arab Federation for Metrology (AFM) said the four pillars of a quality structure are 
metrology, standardization, conformity assessment and accreditation. The quality infrastructure 
facilitates participation in global trade by supporting competitiveness, the avoidance of technical 
barriers to trade, and achievement of environmental, health and consumer policy goals. 
2.5 Operation of electronic weighing and measuring instrument on legal metrology 
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems 
or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also 
refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. Technology is a vital component 
of industrialization and any country which envisions industrialization pay much attention to 
securing technology appropriate to peculiar needs (Republic of Kenya, trade and industry 
quarterly publication, vol. 1, 2006). Use of electronic weighing and measuring instrument on 
legal metrology is one of changes that are catching up with Kenya technologically. 
Electronic weighing and measuring is of high quality and reliability. Traders when using these 
measuring instruments need to be knowledgeable. They should ensure that their weighing or 
measuring instruments are: Accurate and in correct working order at all times, easy for 
consumers to read the scales or measuring instruments, e.g. by using dual-faced indicator type 
instrument, instruments that come with a level indicator must be adjusted by setting the height 
adjustments of the instrument to ensure that the bubble is at the centre of the level indicator, 
Zeroed before goods are weighed or measured clean and free from foreign particles on the 
weighing pan. The WMO seal must be affixed onto the instrument at all times, sent for annual 
re-verification to prevent short weights or measures. 
Technology also plays a direct role in the current structural disinflation because technological 
innovation has reduced the real cost of certain crucial goods, especially information systems, 
telecommunications, and transportation. Strong productivity gains—driven in part by 
technology— also keep inflation low, even when labor markets are very tight. (Shapiro) 
12 
2.5.1 Technology and measuring instruments 
With the advent of programmable hardware components and their integration into measuring 
instruments, the influence and hence the importance of software, especially in legal metrology, 
has remarkably increased. Software validation is an indispensable part of the type examination 
process in legal metrology. The validation of software with respect to the developed 
requirements basically remains a demanding task due to the absence of straightforwardly defined 
procedures. (D. Richter) 
OIML D 31 gives examples of configurations with PCs by focusing on a variant with a computer 
fully embedded into the measuring instrument. The secure configuration of a computer as part of 
a measuring instrument differs from that of a part of a desktop in some aspects. Due to the 
requirements of legal metrology, measurement data, parameters, and measuring instrument in use 
shall not be changeable, at least not without leaving a trace. Wambua 2010, argued that 
innovation and technology forced introduction of digital scales which have gradually faced off 
traditional mechanical weighing scales. 
Clarke 2009, electronic merged with weighing instruments, taking accuracy and precision to one 
step further. Since then there have been remarkable advances with gradual release of 
sophisticated precision instruments such as digital floor scales, moisture analyzers and many 
more. With all advances in weighing instruments, mankind has only improved its ability to 
weigh and measure with great accuracy than ever. Herbner, 2008, noted that rapid changes in 
technology and globalization of commerce have put tradition measurement system under 
pressure to change. 
Manfred (2002), vice-president of PTB and OIML, argued that globalization of markets and 
technological developments have had profound effects on products. There has been explosion in 
the number and complexity of products available. Science and technology have permitted the 
development and mass dissemination of new products that were simply unavailable to all but 
very few in the past, ranging from foodstuffs to consumer durables. Innovation has also 
introduced even more complcx production processes and inputs, the long-term effects of which 
cannot be foreseen with certainty. 
New technologies such as worldwide use of internet for all kinds of network, software control, 
remotely controlled measuring systems. If government control and legal metrology are still 
13 
necessary in the year 2020; it will be quite a challenge to maintain an effective surveillance 
system in a global market. New technologies are very demanding as regards both the drawing up 
of sufficiently flexible harmonized regulations and the competence by well educated, well 
trained and highly motivated civil servants. 
2.5.2 Industrial automation - electronic weighing 
Industrial automation - electronic weighing in modem factories electronic weighing systems 
fully integrated in the total production control system, assure high and long term quality of the 
plant products. Use of electronic/digital weighing and measuring instruments in big 
organizations to weigh and measure products is a technological breakthrough that is expanding 
businesses. Examples of such organizations are: KTDA, BAT, COFFEE FACTORIES, KENYA 
AIRWAYS, and WHEAT PROCESSING FACTORIES among others. Butcheries have not been 
left out also. This has led to competitive advantage to those already using the digital scales as 
they are not only being used for weighing but also printing and storage of data thus making work 
easier and reducing fraud as well as cheating. Though the introduction of these weighing and 
measuring instruments has led to laying-off of some factory workers, the benefits weigh more 
than the loss. The recent use of ICT in most businesses has come hand in hand with the digital 
weighing instruments. 
2.53 IT and legal metrology 
In the last decade, an international standard for it security, the so called Common criteria for 
information Technology security Evaluation (cc) has been developed. To date a successful 
application of cc-base methods in the legal metrology area is not known. 
According to Ngaari 2000, an inspector of weights and measures, the use of electronics and 
especially computer technology in measuring instruments has accurately disrupted the state of 
He further shows difficulties which have with this development: the extreme rapidity with which 
electronic components have developed, and which have raised the problem of conformity of the 
instruments to the approved pattern. This problem was not completely new, since even with 
mechanical measuring instruments, the quality of steel used, the quality of the processing of the 
surface of certain metallic parts, the composition of plastics, or even the packaging of plastic 
granules before injection were all essential criteria, though of course difficult to check on 
finished product. Conformity assurance of electronic instruments was therefore dealt with in the 
14 
same way as that of mechanical instruments, which has in fact given satisfactory results. 
2.6 Knowledge as the Source of Business Value 
Electronics has considerably developed instruments' performance, though at the expense of an 
increased sensitivity to their external environment (temperature, humidity, electrical and 
electromagnetic disturbances).the reliability and durability of these electronic measuring 
instruments have become critical subjects. 
Knowledge and continuous learning are now critical elements of success. In the new economy, 
the knowledge component of products and services has increased dramatically in importance and 
has become the dominant component of customer value. The shift to knowledge as the primary 
source of value makes the new economy led by those who manage knowledge effectively - who 
create, find, and combine knowledge into new products and services faster than their 
competitors. 
There are three forces driving the new economy: these are knowledge, change and globalization; 
Knowledge - intellectual capital as a strategic factor; a set of understandings used by people to 
make decisions or take actions that are important to the company; Change - continuous, rapid 
and complex; generates uncertainty and reduces predictability; Globalization - in R&D, 
technology, production, trade, finance, communication and information, which has resulted in 
opening of economies, global hyper competition and interdependency of business 
The World Metrology Day 2011 message Chemical measurements for our life, our future built 
upon the IYC 2011 theme. Chemistry and chemicals pose particularly interesting challenges to 
the measurement community: thousands of compounds must be measured, and the range of 
concentrations at which some compounds must be reliably detected, quantified, and in some 
cases regulated can nowadays extend down to parts per billion (or even trillion). Yet the ability 
to make appropriately accurate and reliable chemical measurements is crucial to our economy, 
our environment and our personal well being (www.oiml.org "Press Release WORLD 
METROLOGY DAY 2011") 
15 
2.7 Trade/business in relation to weights and measuring instrument 
2.7.1 New Dimensions in Business Space 
New dimensions in Business Space get constantly created. Forces like technological 
breakthroughs, economic growth, market evolution, and shifts in customer tastes, social changes, 
and political events can expand or shrink Business Space. Vast amounts of new Business Space 
created today change perspectives. This unoccupied territory represents a land of opportunity for 
the technological and strategic innovators who can see or create it faster than their competitors 
do. The opportunities are great, but so are the competition and the chance of failure. (Bruce and 
Albert, 2002) 
Wamwana 2007, an inspector of weights and measures, the country's vision 2030 is for the 
realization of a vibrant economy growing at a rate of 10% with a people enjoying a high standard 
of living. The road towards this is the attainment of a state where trade in goods is transacted 
upon approved and accurate weighing and measuring instruments. 
2.8 Standardization of weights and measuring instruments 
According to Louis and Greenleaf (2009), weights and measures standards are necessary, 
reasonable and proper for protection of consumers and businesses from use of false or 
malfunctioning weighing and measuring instruments in all commercial transactions. 
Onyango (2003^, an inspector of weights and measures observed that the ideal situation for a 
manufacturer of weighing and measuring instruments would be to achieve worldwide acceptance 
of a certificate by one-stop testing of his product in just one laboratory of his choice. But this is 
not the case as on the global scale, different trends of a politico-economical nature are observed 
in legal metrology. Another current trend in standardization that will shape metrology in the near 
future is the establishment of formal international and regional agreements among nations to 
recognize each other's capabilities in calibration, testing and certification. 
Republic of Kenya, trade and industry quarterly publication (2007), added that one of the ISO 
certification requirements for any industry or organization is that where weighing and measuring 
is involved, the equipment in use for that purpose must carry a valid certificate of verification as 
proof of accuracy of the said equipment. For example Kenyan tea from KTDA cannot be 
accepted on the world international market in the absence of proof that their weighing 
16 
instruments have been verified. Likewise, cargo planes cannot take off from our airports to any 
destination in the world unless there is proof that they were loaded using weighing equipment 
bearing a valid mark of verification and a certificate to that effect from the weights and measures 
department. 
2.9 Training and legal metrology 
According to Onyango (2003), an inspector of weights and measures, the department of weights 
and measures is a member of OIML and liaises with other regional bodies. Kenya is a member of 
OIML; much has not been done to adopt OIML recommendations to bring us to into line with 
international requirements. Much of the technical regulations in use today were borrowed from 
the British Weights and Measures act way back in 1963. These regulations have largely 
remained the same. This is largely attributed to lack of technical committees to review and 
recommend OIML recommendation wherever possible. 
Kenya has no institutions offering course in legal metrology, as a result the training function is 
currently done in-house. The equipment in use today by the inspectors of weights and measures 
are basically 40 years ago. This coupled with lack of continued technical training is largely 
responsible for inefficiencies that we witness today. 
Afrimets 2011 realized that measurements that meet international expectations cannot be applied 
without appropriate institutions that are able to both satisfactorily demonstrate their ability on 
international stage and that capability to the national user community. The lack of measurement 
infrastructures in African countries has put them a major disadvantage in international trade. 
Many are unable to manufacture to international sections, to ensure the integrity of their export 
commodities, to apply quality control to their fresh produce exports, and to monitor public health 
and environmental conditions. And where they do have basic metrology infrastructures, there is 
often lack of competence and skills, in many instances they operate in silos without international 
recognition. 
2.10 Conceptual Framework 
The conceptual framework shows the relationship between the independent and the dependent 
variables. Further, it shows any other factor that may have any effect on the two variables as 
summarised in figure I. 
17 
The conceptual framework in this particular study shows the challenges facing the use of 
technology in legal metrology, with independent variable being; cost of instruments, operation of 
instrument, Know-how and training, standardization of instruments and training and legal 
metrology. Moderating variable includes the government and environment policy, and 
intervening variable being international trade and market. It is then through this conceptual frame 
that the researcher will be able to find out challenges facing use of technology in legal metrology 
in Meru municipality in Kenya. The challenges facing use of technology in legal metrology has 
not been given a lot of attention in terms of research and documentation. It is because of this that 
this study is going to be carried out by the researcher. 
18 
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK 
Independent Variable Moderating variable 
Figure I: conceptual framework 
19 
2.11 Summary 
Literature review in this study shows that it is important for the weights and measures 
department to adopt electronic technology. This is because trade and industrial activities in the 
country are today increasingly being influenced by external factors of globalization 
consequently, there is mountain pressure on governments in developing countries to embrace 
outward oriented development polices. The core objective of the Government is to put in place 
policies that would restore economic growth and reduce poverty through employment and wealth 
creation articulated in the Economic Recovery strategy for wealth and Employment creation 
(ERS, 2003-2007). 
It is also expected that with new technology adoption in the Legal Metrology, enormous 
challenges will need to be overcome especially in the area of knowledge and training of the 
traders and weights and measures officers (Onyango, 2003). 
Legal metrology comprises both regulated measurements conducted by private individuals and 
controlled by a State authority e.g. trade metrology and regulated measurements conducted by 
State authorities e.g. environmental & traffic control etc. As each of these types of legal 
metrology has distinctive costs and benefits .report (Raymond, 1972-75). 
20 
CHAPTER THREE 
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 
3.1 Introduction 
This chapter introduces the methodology that was used in carrying out the study. It includes 
research design, target population, sampling design, methods and instruments of data collection 
and procedures that were used in the study, it also gives the operational definition of variables as 
used in the research study, methods of analyzing data is also given in this chapter. 
3.2 Research design 
Mugenda and Mugenda (2003), say that to research is to carry out a diligent inquiry or a critical 
examination of a given phenomenon. It involves critical analysis of existing theories or 
conclusions with regard to new discovered facts. This study used descriptive research. Gay 
(1983) defines descriptive research as a process of collecting data in order to test hypotheses or 
to answer questions concerning the current status of the subjects in the study. Descriptive 
research aided in determining and reporting the way things are. 
3.3 Target population 
According to Mutai (2000), a target population refers to a group of individuals, objectives or 
items from which a sample is drawn. The population of the study was from wholesale shops, 
retail shops, kiosks, cereal stores and butcheries within the Meru municipality which covers from 
Gitimbine, Kemu, showground and thimangiri. The researcher used a population of 1600 which 
included 1586 businesses, six 6) weights and measures officers in Meru and eight (8) licensed 
weights and measures repairers in Meru region. 
3.4 Sampling and sample size 
According to Kombo and Tromp (2006) sampling refers to how cases are to be selected for 
observation. Stratified random sampling will be used in this study in order to achieve desired 
representation from various subgroups in the study population. According to Mugenda and 
Mugenda (2003) Sample size depends on factors such as the number of variables in the study, 
type of research design, method of data analysis and size of accessible population. According to 
21 
Sekarah (2007) a researcher can take samples of 10% of bigger population and at least 20% for a 
smaller population and a sample of above 30 to 60 is a good representation of the population. 
The study used a formula by Yamane Tora (1967) for sample size selection. 
Where n=N/(l+Ne2) 
Where n = sample size 
N = target population = 1600 
e = precision 
= 5% 
Therefore 
n= 1600/(1+1600(0.05)2) 
=320 
The study adopted a purposive sampling procedure whereby all six (6) weights and measures 
officers and eight (8) repairers were selected since they constituted a small sample compared to 
the businesses, the remaining 306 were businesses. 
Table 3.1: sampling frame showing distribution of target respondents 
Item Population Sample 
Weights and measures officers 6 6 
Repairers 8 8 
Businesses 1586 306 
Total 1600 320 
22 
3.5 Data Collection Instruments. 
In designing research instruments the researcher considered the objectives of the study and the 
research questions. Data was collected using questionnaire, interview schedules and observation. 
The Questionnaire was used as p r i m a r y d a t a c o l l e c t i o n . I n t e r v i e w s and 
o b s e r v a t i o n m e t h o d s w e r e a l s o be u s e d . These are informal and conversational 
methods of data collection. 
3.5.1 Questionnaires 
A questionnaire is "a set of related questions designed to collect information from a respondent". 
The questionnaire is the most appropriate instrument due to its ability to collect a large amount 
of information in a reasonably quick span of time. It also ensures confidentiality of the source of 
information through anonymity while ensuring standardization. Three sets of questionnaire were 
used in this study. They were administered to the weights measuring Officers, traders and 
weights and measures repairers within Meru Municipality. These questionnaires' were both 
unstructured and structured. Most of the questions were unstructured. The questionnaire 
contained sections covering all the independent variables. 
3.5.2 Interviews Schedule 
The researcher also adopted both structured and unstructured interviews. These methods aided in 
getting complete information because the interviewer was able to express herself freely and get 
all possible answers from the interviewee. The items in the interview schedule were collected 
from traders and repairers in Meru municipality. The schedule entailed: gender, the type 
weighing and measuring instrument being used, the advantages and challenges the trader 
experiences for adapting electronic weighing and measuring instrument, also get information 
from repairers especially on the challenges they get in repairing. 
3.5.3 Observation 
Observation was used by the researcher; it involved going to the scene of action/behavior and 
getting involved with what was going on. The researcher used structured observation schedule. 
This enabled the researcher to use an assistant in the observation process. The observation 
schedule had the following items: checking the type of weighing and measuring instrument being 
used, how customers react to both traditional and electronic instruments and seeing whether the 
traders have knowhow in operating the instrument 
23 
3.6 Data Collection Procedure 
In collecting data, the researcher visited the sampled traders in Meru municipality to administer 
the questionnaire and carry out the interviews. Where necessary, clarification was made on the 
items of the questionnaire. The researcher administered the questionnaires to the respondents, 
waited for them to fill and then collected for analysis. 
The researcher used both unstructured and structured observation. In unstructured observation 
the researcher went to the field and looked at the state of weighing and measuring instruments. 
3.7 Instruments Reliability 
Mugenda and Mugenda (2003) reliability refers to a degree to which a research instrument yields 
consistent results. In this study, I ensured reliability by pre-testing questionnaires using a 
selected sample from data collected. To increase reliability test - retest technique in which 
instruments was administered twice but to different groups of subjects. The pretesting data was 
conducted in Tigania east district by administering questionnaires to ten (10) traders 
3.8 Instruments Validity 
According to Mugenda and Mugenda (2003) validity is the accuracy and meaningfulness of 
inferences, which are based on the research results. Validity of the data was done using content 
validity. A pilot study was carried out by administering the data collection twice but to different 
groups of subjects. The pretesting data was conducted in Tigania east district by administering 
questionnaires to ten (10) traders and this aided to ensure desired data or results were obtained 
when real study was conducted in Meru municipality. 
3.9 Data analysis 
Data analysis involved checking the research instruments to ensure completeness and error free. 
The data was categorized according to research questions. Qualitative data was organized into 
themes. The data was then coded and entered into Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 
software. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistical analysis From SPSS, 
frequencies and percentages were calculated to give meaning to the data. 
24 
3.10 Operationalization of variables 
Table 3.2 Operationalization of variables 
Objectives Variables Indicators Measurement Scale Data analysis 
To establish the 
influence of 
cost of 
digital/electroni 
c weighing and 
measuring 
instruments on 
legal metrology. 
Independent 
variables 
a)cost of the 
instrument 
b) cost of 
maintenance 
c)avai lability 
of spare parts 
Dependent 
variable 
Legal 
metrology 
Amount in 
kshs of the 
electronic 
weighing 
instruments 
Number of 
traders able to 
afford an 
electronic 
weighing 
/measuring 
instruments 
Interval qualitative 
Number of 
times 
instrument is 
maintained in 
an year 
Number of 
times repair is 
done in a year 
Nominal Quantitative 
Number of 
shops for 
instruments 
spare-parts. 
Nominal Quantitative 
To assess the 
influence of 
operation of 
electronic 
weighing and 
Measuring 
instruments on 
Independent 
variables 
Ease of use 
Many people 
using the 
electronic 
instrument 
Quantitative 
Number of 
people who 
can be able 
to operate the 
electronic 
weighing and 
measuring 
instruments 
Number of 
people using the 
electronic 
instruments in 
their weighing 
Nominal Quantitative 
2 5 
Objectives Variables Indicators Measurement Scale Data analysis 
legal metrology. without 
problems. 
Availability of Hours the Hours/days the Interval Quantitative 
power weighing or instrument stays /Qualitative 
measuring before charging 
instruments 
can be in use 
without 
electricity. 
Dependent Number of ordinal Quantitative 
variable people know 
Legal how to operate 
metrology electronic 
weighing and 
measuring 
instruments 
Establish the a)availability Number of Level of ordinal Quantitative 
extent to which of technicians licensed training 
technical know- weights and 
how and measures 
fining on repairers 
electronic within the 
weighing and Mcru 
measuring municipality 
26 
Objectives Variables Indicators Measurement Scale Data analysis 
instruments 
influence legal 
metrology 
b)training 
opportunities 
Number of 
training 
sessions 
attended in a 
given period 
Number of 
training 
available in a 
year 
Nominal Quantitative 
C)availability 
of training 
experts in legal 
metrology 
Number of 
training 
personnel 
available and 
hours they 
are available 
to train 
Number of 
training experts 
available 
Hours 
training experts 
is available 
No 
mi 
nal 
Quantitative 
Dependent 
variable 
Legal 
metrology 
Many people 
are trained 
Quantitative 
Establish 
influence of 
standardization 
of electronic 
weighing and 
measuring 
instruments on 
Independent 
variables 
a)Conformity 
with 
international 
recommendatio 
ns. 
Quantitative 
legal metrology. b)Approval 
experts 
Knowledge 
background 
of the 
approving 
persons. 
Level of 
knowledge 
ordinal qualitative 
27 
Objectives Variables Indicators Measurement Scale Data analysis 
Dependent 
variable 
Legal 
metrolo 
gy 
Nominal Quantitative 
t 
28 
CHAPTER FOUR 
DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION 
4.1 Introduction 
This chapter involves the presentation and analysis of the collected data as well as interpretation 
of findings. Data is represented by use of frequency tables, tables, and charts. 
4.2 Weights and measures officer's responses 
4.2.1 Gender of respondents 
Table 4.1 Gender analysis of the weights and measures officers 
Below table shows the gender of weights and measures officer respondents. 
Gender frequency percentage (%) 
Male 5 83.3 
Female 1 16.7% 
Total 6 100% 
The weights and measures office in Meru have 83.3% of male and 16.7% of female. This on the 
other hand leaves many with question of why there are so many men in the office and only one 
lady doing the legal metrology work, the researcher went deeper to find the reason for this and 
the results she got was that for you to qualify for the legal metrology work, you ought to have 
passed well in mathematics and physics. This from the tradition has been taken as the men's 
subjects with the ladies pursuing art subjects. Even with the gender balance being practiced now 
days in the government offices it seems that the government together with women still has a lot 
to achieve on this. 
29 
4.2.2 Level of education of weights and measures officers 
Table 4.2 Education level of weights and measures officers 
Below table shows the distribution of education levels of the weights and measures officers in 
meru region. 
Level of education Frequency Percentage 
Secondary 1 16.7 
College 4 66.7 
University 1 16.7 
Total 6 100 
From the calculations, 16.7% of respondent had reached secondary level, 66.7% in college level 
and 16.7% in the university level. This implies that all the respondents are competent for the jobs 
they do. The respondents also confirmed that they had undergone an in-job training ranging from 
6 months to four years before actual starting of the work. 
4.2.3Number of years in service 
Table 4.3 Number of years in service 
Below table shows the number of year's respondent has worked in the weights and measures 
Yrs in service Frequency Percentage 
0-5 yrs i 16.7 
6-10 yrs 1 16.7 
Over 15 yrs 4 66.7 
Total 6 100 
30 
4.2.4 Training opportunities for weights and measures officers 
Most of the officers have confirmed that they have had training opportunities. The only problem 
they are encountering is that, there is no institute not only in Meru but in the country that is 
specifically set to train on weighing and measuring instruments. The training is done in-house at 
the weights and measures department headquarters. 
Table 4.4 shows the relationship between performance of legal metrology duties and 
conversancy of the legal metrology requirements 
Duty performance Indicator (%) conversancy with legal requirements (%) 
Verification 60 50 
Inspection 50 40 
Sensitization 30 55 
Stamping 100 100 
Total 240 245 
Table 4.4 shows that the weights and measures officer have an average mean of 60% of 
performance and mean conservancy with legal requirement in performance of duties of 61.25%. 
This is an indication that the officers are well skilled to do their work. 
Table 4.5 shows the relationship between number of years in service and training 
opportunity on weights and measures requirements. 
Number of years in service Training opportunity 
0-5 years 16.7% 
6-10 years 16.7% 
Over 15 years 66.7% 
Total 100% 
31 
Table 4.5 shows that the more one had stayed in the service the more he had had training 
opportunity. For those who had worked for less than five years having 16.7%, between six and 
10 years a 16.7% training opportunity and those with over 15 years having 66.67% training 
opportunity. 
4.2.5 Challenges faced due to introduction of electronic equipments 
From the data collected it is clear that there are several challenges that have come with the 
introduction of electronic/digital weighing and measuring equipment. These includes; lack of 
training for officers on their application and the equipment testing; overreliance on the 
manufacturers/ technicians even while doing the verification work; rapid change in technology 
thus not able to cope with the pace. 
Table 4.6 shows cross tabulation between challenges and standardization problem 
impacting on legal metrology negatively. 
Challenge effect on standardization 
Lack of training on application and the 
Equipment testing 100% 
Overreliance on the manufacturers 100% 
Rapid change in technology 100% 
Table 4.6 shows there is a 100% negative impact on standardization brought about by lack of 
training of officers' on application and equipment testing, this leads to a situation where they rely 
on the manufacturer while doing their control work, the rapid change in technology has also 
rendered it impossible for the officers to move with the same pace. 
4.3 weighing and measures repairer's responses 
4.3.1 Gender of weighing and measures repairer's responses 
Table 4.7 Gender of weights and measures repairer's 
Below table shows the gender of weights and measures repairer's 
Gender frequency percentage (%) 
Male 8 100 
Total 8 100% 
32 
All the weights and measures repairers in Meru region (100%) are male. 
4J.2 Education level of weights and measures repairer's 
Table 4.8 Education level of repairer's 
Below table shows the education levels of the weights and measures repairers. 
Level of education Frequency Percentage 
Secondary 7 87.5 
University 1 12.5 
Total 100 
87.5% of the repairers have reached secondary level as their highest level of education, while 
12.5% has reached the university level. The repairers also confirmed that they have been gaining 
skills and knowledge from their fellow repairers especially those in Nairobi. Others have been 
learning through trial and error method. 
4.3 J Period of service 
Table 4.9 years working as a repairer 
Table 4.9 shows the years that each weights and measures repairer has worked as repairers 
Yrs in service Frequency Percentage 
0-5 yrs 1 12.5 
6-10 yrs 1 12.5 
11-15 yrs 2 25.0 
Over 15 yrs 4 50.0 
Total 8 100 
33 
12.5% have worked between o and 5 years, 12.5% between 6 and 10 years, 25% between 11 and 
15 years, while 50% have worked for over 15 years. Those who have stayed long in the repair 
field have been able to help others who are up-coming on the repair work. 
43.4 License of repairer's 
Table 4.10 license types of the repairers 
Table 4.10 shows the license type the repairer has which also indicate the type and capacity of 
weighing and measuring instrument he is legally authorized to repair. 
License type Frequency Percentage 
Type 1 7 8Z5 
Type 2 1 12.5 
Total 100 
87.5% of the repairers have type I, while 12.5% have type II license. There are six (6) different 
types of licenses that are given to qualified mechanics and technicians in order to repair different 
types of weighing and measuring instruments. The licenses are issued by the director of weights 
and measures department in the ministry of trade after the repairer has proved to have required 
skills and integrity to do so. The licenses are: Type 1- for repair of weights, spring balances, 
platform machines of capacity not exceeding 250kgs and non-self indicating instruments, Type 2 
for repair of platform machines of capacity not exceeding 1,000 kgs, self- indicating and semi-
self- indicating weighing machines, excluding weighbridges, Type 3 for repair of platforms 
exceeding l,oookgs, weighbridges and automatic weighing machines, Type 4 for repair of 
balances of precision and weighing instruments incorporating electronic devices, Type 5 for 
repair of pumps, measure of capacity and bulk measures, Type 6 for repair of bulk meters and 
proving tanks and type 7 for repair of liquid measuring instruments incorporating electronic 
devices. It is therefore very clear from the data collected that there is no repairer in Meru who is 
qualified for the repair of the digital/electronic weighing/measuring equipment. 
f 
34 
4.3.5 Training opportunities 
Table 4.11 training opportunities for weights and measures repairers 
Training opportunity Frequency percentage 
Yes 6 75.0 
No 2 25.0 
Total 8 100 
75% of respondent have had opportunities to enrich their knowledge, while 25% of the 
respondents did not have an opportunity. Even though most of the repairers have had opportunity 
for training, they were clear that they never had a chance to train and acquire skills and 
knowledge of repairing the electronic weighing/measuring equipment. 
Table 4.12 shows the cross tabulation between training opportunities and number of years 
in service 
Number of years in service training opportunity 
0-5 years 5% 
6-10 years ^ ^ ^ u b S a ^ ^ 15% 
11-15 years 30% 
Over 15 years 50% 
Total 100% 
Table 4.12 shows that the more the years that one had served a repairer, the more the training 
opportunity he had had. Those who had worked for up to 5 years had 5%, for 6 to 10 years 
15%, 11 to 15 years had a 30% of opportunities while those who had worked over 15 years had a 
50% of training opportunities. 
35 
43.6 Training institution 
Table 4.13 training institutions on electronic weighing/measuring instruments in meru 
municipality 
Training institution Frequency Percentage 
Yes 0 0 
No 8 100 
Total 8 100 
From the data collected, it is clear that there exists no institution in the Meru region which deals 
with weighing and measuring knowledge 
4.3.7 Challenges encountered 
Challenges encountered by the repairers includes: lack of transport, lack of cooperation from 
traders where traders feel that they are exorbitant on repair prices, lack of spare parts of some of 
the weighing and measuring equipments, means of submission for re-verification of the 
equipment and lack of capital. 
Table 4.14 General challenges encountered by repairers 
Table 4.14 shows general challenges encountered by repairers while performing their repair 
work. 
Challenge Percentage 
Lack of transport 50 
Lack of cooperation from traders 80 
Lack of spare parts 90 
Means of submission for re-verification 60 
Lack of capital 85 
36 
43.8 Challenges due to use of electronic weighing and measuring equipments 
Challenges encountered by the repairers due to introduction of electronic/digital weighing and 
measuring equipment includes: lack of experience to repair the equipments, rapid flow of the 
equipments into the market, lack of spare parts, different modes of calibrations for different 
weighing and measuring equipments and the cost of repairing the equipments is too high. 
Table 4.15 shows cross tabulation between challenges faced by repairers due to use of 
electronic weighing equipment and lack of training opportunity 
Challenge lack of Training opportunity Total 
Yes No 
Lack of repair experience 85% 15% 100 
Difference in modes of calibration 90% 10% 100 
Table 4.15 shows that 85% of the repairers attributed their lack of experience to repair the 
electronic weighing equipment to lack of training, while 15% did not attribute their lack of 
experience to lack of the training opportunity, 90% also attributed different modes of calibrations 
of the electronic weighing equipment. 
4.4 Traders responses 
4.4.1 Gender 
Table 4.16 Gender of traders who responded to the questionnaires 
Gender Frequency Percentage 
Male 143 46.7 
Female 163 53.3 
Total 306 100 
From the calculations, 46.7% were male while 53.3% are female; this shows that there are more 
women who are trading. This was contributed by the fact that most of the businesses visited were 
37 
cereal stores; most men operated the butcheries and hardware shops. The store owners also 
confirmed that their husbands were out looking for more cereals as they did the selling. 
4.4.2 Education level 
Table 4.17 Education level of traders 
Education level Frequency Percentage 
Primary 14 4.6 
Secondary 237 77.4 
College 34 11.1 
University 21 6.9 
Total 306 100 
4.6% of trader respondents reached primary level as their highest level of education, 77.5% 
reached secondary level, and 11.1% reached the college level while 6.8% have reached the 
university. 
4.4.3 Business location 
All businesses are within the Meru Municipality. 
4.4.4 Type of business 
Table 4.18 Type of business of traders 
Business type Frequency Percentage 
Butchery 45 14.7 
Cereal store 104 34.0 
Retail/wholesale shops 53 17.3 
Others 104 34.0 
Total 306 100 
38 
From the calculations, 14.7% businesses are butcheries, 34% are cereal stores, 17.3% are retail 
and others wholesale shops while 34,0% are other types of businesses including hardware shops, 
fashion exhibitions and furniture shops. 
4.4.5 Use of weighing/measuring equipment 
Table 4.19 Table showing the whether the respondent uses weighing/measuring instrument 
Use of weighing/measuring instrument Frequency Percentage 
Yes 285 93.1 
No 21 6.9 
Total 306 100 
Most of the traders (93.1% of the respondents) confirmed that they used weighing/measuring 
instrument while 6.9% did not use any weighing/measuring instrument. 
4.4.6 Type of equipment 
Table 4.20 Type of weighing /measuring instrument that the respondent uses 
Type of instrument used Frequency Percentage 
Mechanical 124 43.5 
Electronic/digital 161 56.5 
Total 285 100 
Out of the 285 traders who used weighing instruments, 43.5% used mechanical instrument, 
56.5% used electronic/digital weighing /measuring instrument. 
39 
Table 4.21 shows the relationship between the profit earned per day and the type of 
weighing equipment used 
Mean percentage Type of weighing instrument 
Profits in '000' mechanical electronic 
1.0 -2.0 40 5 
2.1 -3.0 38 10 
3.1 -4.0 30 15 
4.1 -5.0 10 35 
5.1 -6.0 5 44 
6.1 -7.0 1 52 
Total 124 161 
Table 4.21 shows that there exists a relationship between profit earned and type of weighing 
instrument being used. Most of those who use mechanical instruments earned a mean profit of 
between kshs 1,000 and 4,000 in a day, while most of those who used the electronic instruments 
earned between kshs 4,100 and 7,000 in a day. 
4.4.7 Knowledge on use of equipment 
With minimum guidance from the sellers of instruments and the instrument manuals, the traders 
are able to operate the weighing and measuring instruments with little or no difficulties at all. 
This is contributed by the fact that most of the traders are well educated and many have also 
confirmed that they have been attending seminars and part time classes on how to better their 
businesses. For those who are not able to go further studies, they confessed that they always go 
for competent staff who are academically well equipped with business skills. Others also said 
that they have been taking their staff for further training 
40 
4.4.8 Number of repairs per year 
Table 4.22 Repair for weighing/measuring instrument in a year by the users. 
Number of repairs per year Frequency Percentage 
Once 101 35.4 
Twice 114 40.1 
Five times 46 16.1 
Others 24 8.4 
Total 285 10cT 
Most traders with electronic instruments repaired once or even did not repair their instruments 
apart from the annual verification and stamping by the weights and measures officers. On the 
other hand, those with mechanical instruments repaired them more than once per year. 
4.4.9 Training and seminar 
Table 4.23 training and seminar attained and attended by the respondents 
Training /seminar attended Frequency Percentage 
Yes 71 23.2 
No 235 76.8 
Total 306 100 
23.5% of the respondents had seminars and training session's concerning use of weighing 
instruments and rules relating to the same. Most of the traders had not attended any training; this 
41 
was contributed by their tight schedules in their businesses leaving them with no extra time to 
attend such functions. 
4.4.10 Challenges due to use of electronic/digital weighing and measuring equipment 
Table 4.24 Challenges experienced by the respondent due to introduction and use of 
electronic weighing/measuring instruments. 
Challenges Frequency Percentage 
Lack of capital 48 15.7 
Lack of power 61 19.9 
Lack of spare parts 23 7.5 
Cost too high 96 31.4 
3 and 4 78 25.5 
Total 306 100 
Challenges due to introduction and use of electronic/digital weighing/ measuring instruments 
includes lack of capital to buy them, lack of power in some areas, lack of spare parts during 
repair, and the cost of maintaining being too high. Another challenge that most traders 
complained of is loss of customers for those who were still using the mechanical weighing and 
measuring instruments. Most customers especially those who were buying meat preferred to buy 
their meat from those using the electronic weighing machines. Those who were able to acquire 
electronic weighing/measuring instruments said that they had had a great change in their profits 
which were raising daily as more customers preferred to be weighed for using the electronic 
instruments. This have left them with more confidence of even abandoning there manual 
weighing instruments. Those with electronic instruments also confirmed that they were not 
repairing the instruments as many times as they did with the mechanical instruments. 
The researcher during the survey observed how various challenges that were being faced by 
42 
traders impacted on legal metrology. 
Table 4.25 shows cross tabulation of various challenges and there impact on legal 
metrology 
Challenge impact on legal metrology 
Positive negative 
Cost of electronic weighing instrument 40% 60% 
Cost of maintaining the electronic instrument 30% 70% 
Lack of spare parts for the instruments 0% 100% 
Fees for verification of instrument 10% 90% 
Lack of qualified repair personnel 0% 100% 
Table 4.25 shows that the cost of the electronic weighing instrument had a positive effect of 40% 
and a negative effect of 60%. With was brought by the argument that at this age of technological 
advancement, the high cost of electronic weighing instrument was hindering legal metrology in 
advancing technologically, it is also clear that lack of spare parts as well as qualified repair 
personnel had a 100% negative impact on the legal metrology aspect. The traders also 
complained that the fees charged for the verification was too high compared to those of 
mechanical ones, the traders were therefore reluctant to produce their instruments for 
verification. 
43 
CHAPTER FIVE 
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, DISCUSSIONS, CONCLUSIONS AND 
RECOMMENDATIONS 
5.1 Introduction 
This chapter presents the summary of the findings, discussions and study conclusions and 
gives recommendations. The main objective of this study was to establish the challenges 
being faced by various stakeholders due to the introduction and use of electronic weighing 
and measuring instruments in trade. The specific objectives of the study were: to establish the 
influence of cost of digital/electronic weighing and measuring instruments on legal 
metrology, to assess the influence of operation of electronic weighing and measuring 
instruments on legal metrology, establish the extent to which technical know-how and 
training on electronic weighing and measuring instruments influence legal metrology and 
establish how standardization of electronic weighing and measuring instruments influence 
legal metrology. 
5.2 Summary of the findings 
This section gives the summary of findings from the data analysis. 
5.2.1 General information 
Majority of the weights and measures officers, traders and repairers respondents are male 
(83.3%, 46.6%, and 100% respectively), the rest 16.7%, 53.4% and 0% respectively are female, 
Who has worked in their offices and businesses for more than 5 years. According to collected 
data, 16.7% of weights and measures officers have worked between 0 to 5 years, 16.7% has 
worked between 6 and 10 years and 66.7% have worked for over 15 years. 12.5% have worked 
between o and 5 years, for repairers, 12.5% had worked between 6 and 10 years, 25% between 
11 and 15 years, while 50% have worked for over 15 years. 
In addition most of the weights and measures officers (66.7% ) had reached college level of 
education, 16.7% had reached secondary level, and 16.7% in the university level, (87.5%) of the 
repairers reached secondary level and 12.5% has reached the university level, while (77.5%) of 
44 
traders respondent had reached secondary level of education. 
5.2.2 Cost of digital/electronic weighing and measuring instruments versus legal 
metrology 
According to the data analysis, 15.6% of the traders lacked the capital to buy the 
digital/electronic weighing and measuring instruments in order to boost their businesses.31.6% 
of the traders complained of the high cost of maintaining the instruments due to consumption 
of power and cost of repairing in case of a breakdown. Some parts do not have electric power 
and those using the electronic instruments are forced to carry them to areas where there is 
power in order to charge them. 
5.2.3 Operation of electronic weighing and measuring instruments versus legal metrology 
Many traders do not have problem of using the electronic /digital weighing and measuring 
instruments as both the sellers of the instruments and the manuals are handy enough to guide 
them on the operation of the instrument. The problem comes in identifying whether the 
instrument is working correctly or not. Most or all the traders using this electronic /digital 
weighing and measuring instruments confessed that they cannot tell whether the instrument is 
cheating either them or the customer as it is the case with the manual weighing and measuring 
instruments. The weights and measures officers as well as the repairers also complained of the 
mode of operation of the electronic weighing and measuring instrument, saying that almost 
each instrument has a different method of operation thus they are forced to rely on the 
manufacturer in case of a problem. 
5.2.4 Training on electronic weighing and measuring instruments versus legal metrology 
From the analysis, 75% of both the weights and measures officers and repairers have not had 
adequate training to equip them well with knowledge to deal with electronic /digital weighing 
and measuring instruments. In addition 76.5% of the traders have not been in any training 
sessions on use of the electronic weighing and measuring instruments. 
5.2.5 Standardization of electronic weighing and measuring instruments versus legal 
metrology. 
Challenges encountered by the repairers due to introduction of electronic/digital weighing and 
measuring equipment includes: lack of experience to repair the equipments, rapid flow of the 
45 
equipments into the market, lack of spare parts, different modes of calibrations for different 
weighing and measuring equipments and the cost of repairing the equipments is too high. 
Challenges faced by weights and measures officers due to the introduction of electronic/digital 
weighing and measuring equipment. This includes lack of training for officers on their 
application and the equipment testing; overreliance on the manufacturers/ technicians even while 
doing the verification work; rapid change in technology thus not able to cope with the pace. 
From this it is clear that there lacks standardization of the electronic weighing and measuring 
instruments. 
S.l Discussions 
Technological advancement has taken the shape of all organizations. To remain in business and 
competitively, organizations are incorporating ICT in their daily routines as it is making them 
more competitive and are also able to update themselves with any new developments that are 
beneficial in good time. The weighing and measuring industries have not been left out either, 
organizations such as KTDA have acquired electronic weighing scales that have been 
programmed in such a way that, when a farmer weighs his or her tea in the buying centres the 
data is transmitted immediately up to the head quarters, this on the other hand has helped 
KTDA boost their trust with the farmers, reduce redundancy and also speed up the processes 
apart from reducing the overall head over costs. This is also helping the organization in 
meeting the ISO standards that helps them in the marketing of their products. Export firms are 
using ICT knowledge in their weighing in order to boost their sales in the world market. 
The introduction and use of electronic/digital weighing and measuring instruments have come 
with various challenges to various stakeholders in the developing countries and especially in 
our country Kenya. 
5.3.1 Cost of digital/electronic weighing and measuring instruments versus legal 
metrology 
According to the data collected, more than 31.6% of traders who responded confirmed that the 
cost of both acquiring and maintaining the electronic weighing instruments is too high for 
them, this was coupled up with lack of electric power in some areas and those with electronic 
instruments were forced to take their instruments for charging now and then. Apart from the 
cost of the instruments there also lacks spare parts in case of a breakdown which adds to the 
cost of repair as the spares have to be gotten from Nairobi. Another problem that is adding to 
46 
the cost is the fact that there are no qualified repairers for the electronic instruments in Meru 
and organizations are forced to get repairers from Nairobi. 
53.2 Operation of electronic weighing and measuring instruments versus legal metrology 
According to Birzerba, the importance of industrial scales, as well as special weighing units 
has become greater for following industries: steel works and foundries, chemicals, food, animal 
feed, meat and dairy plants and other branches of industry. Besides weighing, these industrial 
scales must fulfill numerous other operations such as filling, mixing, batching, checking, 
control, counting, printing of weights, or transmission of data into process computers, and at 
least control entire manufacturing cycles. In doing so, electricity and electronics play an ever 
increasing part today. 
According to Ngaari (2010), an inspector of weights and measures, majority of people are not 
familiar with use of electronic equipments and the traders with some technicians were taking 
advantage of the situation to cheat them. According to observations made during the survey, 
this is true, most customers and even traders were not conversant with the use of the electronic 
instruments and did not know whether they were getting their money's worth. The traders rely 
on the manual and at times affect the operation of the instruments. Though at the beginning 
there are difficulties, the traders are coping with the technological changes and have started 
appreciating it. 
5.3.3 Training on electronic weighing and measuring instruments versus legal metrology 
According to Onyango (2003), an inspector of weights and measures, much of the technical 
regulations in use today were borrowed from the British Weights and Measures act way back in 
1963. These regulations have largely remained the same. This is largely attributed to lack of 
technical committees to review and recommend OIML recommendation wherever possible. 
Kenya has no institutions offering course in legal metrology, as a result the training function is 
currently done in-house. From data collected things are still the same and weights and measures 
officers are not well equipped to approve the electronic weighing machines. Most of the times 
they are forced to rely on the manufacturer on any available information while doing the 
approval, this is making them to lose control over the same. On the other hand the repairers have 
not had an easy sail through either; this is because those who have the knowledge of the 
electronic weighing and measuring instruments are not ready to share so that they can remain the 
47 
kings in the business. The traders are also suffering as they are not able to detect in good time 
when their instruments is not working properly as is the case with manual instruments. 
According to Afrimets 2011 there is often lack of competence and skills for both weights and 
measures officers and repairers in Africa which leads to competitive disadvantage in the 
international market. 
53.4 Standardization of electronic weighing and measuring instruments versus legal 
metrology 
Onyango (2003,), an inspector of weights and measures observed that the ideal situation for a 
manufacturer of weighing and measuring instruments would be to achieve worldwide acceptance 
of a certificate by one-stop testing of his product in just one laboratory of his choice. But this is 
not the case as on the global scale, different trends of a politico-economical nature are observed 
in legal metrology. EL Sayed, head of the NIS Office of international affairs (NIS-OIA) and 
Assistant Secretary General of Arab Federation for Metrology (AFM) said the four pillars of a 
quality structure are metrology, standardization, conformity assessment and accreditation. From 
data collected, the officers emphasized of the need to standardize the electronic weighing and 
measuring instruments to ease their work in the field as at now each instrument has a different 
method of calibration. The repairers complained of the rapid flow with which the instruments are 
flowing into the market, they also said that the electronic instruments had different modes of 
calibration. 
5.4 Conclusions 
The study findings reveal that with the introduction and use of electronic/digital weighing and 
measuring instruments in the market, various challenges are being faced by various stakeholders. 
These includes: lack of capital, lack of spare parts, lack of sufficient skills and knowledge , 
competitive disadvantage of those not using the electronic instruments and overreliance on the 
manufacturers for approval and maintenance. According to the collected data, all the weights and 
measures officers admitted that they required training on the application and testing of the 
electronic weighing and measuring instruments, they also admitted that they were relying on 
manufacturers even while doing their verification work which is supposed to be the other way 
round. The officers emphasized of the need to standardize the electronic weighing and measuring 
instruments to ease their work in the field as at now each instrument has a different method of 
48 
calibration. 
The repairers complained of the rapid flow with which the instruments are flowing into the 
market, they also said that the electronic instruments had different modes of calibration which is 
making it difficult for them to learn the new technology. On the other hand they admitted that 
they did not have the required skills and knowledge to repair the electronic weighing and 
measuring instruments and they were being forced to send them back to Nairobi for repairs, the 
repairs also complained of the lack of spare parts in Meru to repair the same. Some 75% of the 
repairers felt that they were being competitively disadvantaged by the use and introduction of the 
weighing and measuring instruments both legally as they do not legal licenses to repair them and 
academically as they did not a chance to go for further training even if they wanted, this is 
because there are few institute that dealt with the same. According to collected data, 100% 
showed there were no institutes in Meru that trained on electronic weighing instruments. 
The traders encountered various challenges due to use and introduction of electronic weighing 
and measuring instruments in the market: 15.6% admitted that they lacked capital to buy the 
instruments, 19.9% complained of lack of power in the area they work, 7.5% complained of lack 
of spares for the instruments when they required repair.31.6% said that the cost of maintaining 
the instruments was too high compared to that of mechanical or manual weighing and measuring 
instruments. 25.4% of the traders said that the cost was too high which was contributed by lack 
of spares and also qualified technicians to do the repair work when need aroused. Though not all 
the traders possessed the electronic weighing instruments, according to collected data 53.7% had 
electronic instruments while 40.7% had mechanical instruments, they admitted that technology 
was changing the face of businesses. Those with electronic instruments confirmed of raised 
earnings while those with mechanical ones admitted that they were losing more and more 
customers as well as their profits and they were contemplating of acquiring the electronic 
weighing and measuring instruments if they were to remain in business. The traders also 
admitted that the electronic instruments required less repairs compared to the mechanical ones. 
49 
5.5 Recommendations 
The researcher recommends the following: 
1. The weights and measures departments needs to regain its control by training their staff 
further on the application and testing of the electronic weighing and measuring 
instruments. 
2. The repairers need to seek further knowledge in order to cope with the pace of the 
technological development. 
3. The government should establish regulation and control of the manufacture of the 
electronic weighing and measuring instruments as well as establish standardization of 
the same. 
4. The weights and measures officers should also raise more sensitization and awareness 
to the public on rules relating to weighing and measuring. 
5. The traders should be empowered through subsidized loans for them to be able to go 
hand in hand with the rest of the world and remain competitive both in the local and 
international market. 
5.6 Areas for further researches 
The researcher suggests that; 
I. Assess the economic impact of electronic weighing on international market. 
II. Influence of academic performance of girl child on performance of legal metrology 
duties. 
III. Assess challenges due to introduction and use of electronic weighing and measuring 
instruments in other areas. 
50 
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51 
Hari Prawoko,(1999) Measuring Bulk Materials in Trade by Draft Survey, Problems and 
implementation, 6th APLMF Forum, Nusa Dua, Indonesia. 
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Mr. Brian Beard, (2011) AFRIMETS, legal metrology overview pg 19 
Mugenda and Mugenda (2003) Research Methods Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches 
Mutai K. B (2000), how to write Quality research proposal, these publications, George squire, 
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N. Greif, (2006) Software testing and preventive quality assurance for metrology, computer 
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54 
APPENDICES 
APPENDIX Is INTRODUCTORY LETTER 
Florence W. Njihia 
P.O. box 2422 
Meru. 
15/05/2012 
Dear respondent 
RE: RESEARCH ON CHALLENGES FACING USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN LEGAL 
METROLOGY WITHIN MERU MUNICIPALITY 
I AM A STUDENT AT THE University of Nairobi carrying out a study on challenges facing use 
of technology in legal metrology within the Meru Municipality being part of the partial 
fulfillment for the award of the degree of Master of Arts in Project Planning and Management. 
I kindly request your input through filling this questionnaire. Please note that your honest 
response will be in strict confidence and any additional information you may consider relevant 
for this research will be greatly appreciated. 
Thank you in advance. 
Yours truly 
Florence W. Njihia. 
55 
APPENDIX II: QUESTIONAIRES' 
QUESTIONAIRE FOR WEIGHTS AND MEASURES OFFICER 
Instructions: Please tick the correct answer 
1. Please indicate your gender 
Female [ ] 
Male [ ] 
2. What is your designation? 
3. For how long have you been in the service? 
0-5 yrs [ ] 6-10 y r s [ ] 11-15 y r s [ ] o v e r l 5 y r s [ ] 
4. State your highest level of education 
Primary level [ ] 
Secondary level [ ] 
College [ ] 
University [ ] 
5. Are there adequate training opportunities? 
Yes [ ] No [ ] 
6. If yes, have you been able to attend to those relevant to your field of work? 
56 
7. Are you conversant with all weighing and measuring instruments in your area of work 
coverage? 
8. Which area do you feel need to be improved upon? 
9. Do you hold seminars/training sessions for public especially on use and laws concerning 
weighing and measuring instruments? 
Yes [ ] No [ ] 
10. If yes, how often? 
11. If no, why? 
12. How do you ensure all weighing and measuring instruments in your area of jurisdiction is 
weighing accurately? 
13. What challenges have you encountered with introduction and use of electronic weighing 
and measuring instruments? 
57 
QUESTIONAIRE FOR TRADERS 
Instructions: Please tick the correct answer 
1. Please indicate your gender 
Female 
Male [ ] 
2. State your highest level of education 
Primary level [ ] 
Secondary level i | 
College [ ] 
University [ ] 
3. Please indicate Location of business. 
Makutano [ ] Meru town [ ] Kaaga/kemu [ ] Gitimbine [ ] Thimangiri [ ] 
Other[ ] 
4. What is type of business? 
Butchery [ ] Cereals store [ ] retail/wholesale shop [ ] others [ ] 
5. Do you use any weighing or measuring instrument in your business? 
Yes [ ] No [ ] 
6. If yes, what type of instrument do you use? 
Mechanical [ ] Electronic/digital [ ] 
7. How do you know whether your instrument is working well? 
iii 
8. How often is your instrument repaired in a year? 
58 
Once [ ] twice [ ] five times [ ] other specify [ ] 
9. Do you take your instrument for verification and stamping? 
Yes [ ] No [ ] 
10. What challenges have you encountered while using weighing or measuring instrument? 
I 
Ii 
Iii 
IV 
V 
VI 
Vii 
11. Are you aware of laws concerning use of weighing and measuring instruments? 
Yes [ ] No [ ] 
12. Have you attended any seminar or training concerning the use and laws governing use of 
weighing and measuring instrument? 
Yes [ ] No [ ] 
59 
PL ESTIONAIRE FOR LICENCED WEGHITS AND MEASURES REPAIRERS 
Instructions: Please tick the correct answer 
1. Please indicate your gender 
Female [ ] 
Male [ ] 
2. State your highest level of education 
Primary level [ ] 
Secondary level [ ] 
College [ ] 
University [ ] 
3. For how long have you repaired weighing/ measuring instruments? 
0-5 yrs [ ] 6-10 yrs [ ] 11-15 yrs [ ] o v e r l 5 y r s [ ] 
4. Do you repair all types of weighing or measuring instruments? Specify 
5. Do you have opportunity to add your knowledge? 
6. Are there any institutions within your region offering necessary skills to better your 
work? 
60 
7. What challenges have you encountered while doing your work? 
I 
Ii 
Iii 
IV 
V 
8. What challenges are you facing due to introduction and use of electronic weighing and 
measuring instruments? 
I 
Ii 
Iii 
Iv 
V 
61 
Appendix III: OBSERVATION SCHEDULE 
1. Type of weighing /measuring instrument being used. 
2. Checking the condition of weighing instrument. 
3. Check whether the instrument has been verified and has current stamp. 
4. Assess knowledge of user of electronic weighing instrument on use of instrument. 
62 
A p p c a d i i IV: Sample size determination 
Table III. Sample size determination 
Table 1. Sample size for ±3%. ±5%. ±7%, ± 10% precision levels Where Confidence Level 
is 95% and p=.5 
Size of Sample size (n) for precision (e)of: 
Population ±3% ±5% ±7% ±10% 
500 a 222 145 83 
6 0 0 a 240 152 86 
700 a 255 158 88 
8 0 0 a 267 163 89 
9 0 0 a 277 166 90 
1 ,000 a 286 169 91 
2 ,000 714 333 185 95 
3 ,000 811 353 191 97 
4 ,000 870 364 194 98 
5 ,000 909 370 196 98 
6 ,000 938 375 197 98 
7 ,000 959 378 198 99 
8 .000 976 381 199 99 
9 ,000 989 383 200 99 
10,000 1,000 385 200 99 
15,000 1,034 390 201 99 
20 ,000 1,053 392 204 100 
25 ,000 1,064 394 204 100 
50 ,000 1,087 397 204 100 
100,000 1,099 398 204 100 
>100,000 1,111 400 204 100 
a=Assumption of normal population is poor (Yamane, 1967). The entire population should be sampled 
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