The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has intensified public participation on a raft of proposed regulations aimed at strengthening product certification, laboratory testing, and measurement standards in the country.
Speaking during a stakeholder engagement meeting in Kisumu, KEBS Testing Team Leader Mr. Oteko Otieno said the forums are part of the constitutional requirement that compels institutions to seek public views before draft regulations are enacted into law.
“We are here for a public stakeholder engagement meeting on an omnibus of regulations that we are presenting to members of the public,” said Otieno. “The first one is on product certification, the second is on testing and designation of laboratory regulations, and the third is on metrology regulations.”
Otieno noted that the regulations are intended to anchor critical functions within KEBS while ensuring Kenya’s products meet both local and international standards.
“These are constitutionally imperative regulations because before any law becomes operational, the draft must be taken to the public so that feedback can be collected to enrich and inform the final regulations before publication,” he said.
He added that KEBS has been conducting similar engagements across the country, including in Mombasa, Garissa, Meru, Nyeri, Eldoret, and Kakamega, before arriving in Kisumu.
According to Otieno, the proposed product certification regulations clearly define the responsibilities of manufacturers and KEBS in ensuring products meet required standards.
“The regulations stipulate how products will be certified in this country, with clear assignment of responsibilities to manufacturers and to KEBS to ensure that the product certification marks issued are not only recognised locally but also abroad,” he explained.
He described the Standardization Mark as a crucial tool in regional trade.
“One of the product certification marks that these regulations talk about is the Standardization Mark, which is the notified mark for the region. I always refer to it as a passport for manufacturers in this country,” said Otieno.
On laboratory testing, Otieno said the regulations seek to establish guidelines and standards for laboratories used in product certification processes.
“Testing is important because it informs standard certification and objectively confirms that products have met the required standards,” he said. “The regulations will also set out guidelines and requirements for laboratories, including those operated by third-party facilities, to ensure they have systems and processes equivalent to KEBS standards.”
He noted that harmonised testing systems would enable consistency and reliability in certification results.
Otieno further underscored the importance of metrology regulations, saying accurate measurements are critical in trade and industrial processes.
“Metrology enables us to have accuracy in measurements and traceability of measurements through the international system of measurements,” he stated. “The regulations will also provide oversight for calibration laboratories in the country and clearly set out responsibilities for all parties involved.”
KEBS expects the nationwide public participation exercise and review process to conclude by June this year.
