KENYA: PREPARATIONS FOR CHANGE TO METRIC SYSTEM

Record ID: 363491

  • Title: KENYA: PREPARATIONS FOR CHANGE TO METRIC SYSTEM
  • Date: 18th December 1968
  • Summary: JOGOO HOUSE: INSPECTOR GENERAL AND MWEI KIBAKI; LOOKING AT MEASURES; PRESENTATION. Initials GEP/VS/JF/SS Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 2nd January 1969 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NAIROBI/KENYA
  • Country: Kenya
  • Reuters ID: LVA7NH3RAA05SRFBA3OXWXTKW9QJ
  • Story Text: THE FRENCH INSPECTOR GENERAL OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES PRESENTED FIVE SETS OF METRIC STANDARD MEASURES TO THE KENYA GOVERNMENT IN NAIROBI YESTERDAY (TUESDAY). THE MEASURES ARE A GIFT FROM THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT TO ASSIST IN EAST AFRICA'S COMING CHANGE OVER TO THE METRIC SYSTEM.

    THE KENYAN MINISTER OF COMMERCE, MR. MWEI KIBAKI, RECEIVED THE MEASURES ON BEHALF OF HIS GOVERNMENT IN A SPECIAL CEREMONY AT JOGOO HOUSE. THE MEASURES INCLUDE A STANDARD STAINLESS STEEL METRE WITH MICROSCOPE, A CASE OF BRASS WEIGHTS, STAINLESS STEEL WEIGHTS, AND STANDARD GLASS LITRE AND CAPACITY MEASURES.

    KENYA IS CHANGING TO THE METRIC SYSTEM ON THE 1ST OF JANUARY 1969. AFTER THE END OF NEXT JUNE IT WILL BE ILLEGAL FOR TRADESMEN IS NAIROBI TO USE THE OLD MEASURES.

    IN AUGUST, TANZANIA, AND IN SEPTEMBER UGANDA WILL ALSO GO METRIC. THE CAPITALS ARE SCHEDULED TO CHANGEOVER FIRST, WITH OTHER AREAS SWITCHING OVER GRADUALLY. MR. KWAI KIBAKI HAS TOLD THE KENYAN PARLIAMENT THAT IT IS HOPED THAT THE WHOLE OF EAST AFRICA WILL HAVE STOPPED USING IMPERIAL WEIGHTS AND MEASURES WITHIN TWO YEARS.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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