KEBS unveils US$519K high-tech lab equipment to strengthen product quality, export competitiveness 

KENYA – The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), working in partnership with the British High Commission in Nairobi and TradeMark Africa, has commissioned four advanced laboratory testing devices valued at more than KES67 million (US$519,000).  

The investment marks a significant upgrade in Kenya’s ability to conduct product certification and quality assurance for food, agricultural and industrial goods destined for local and international markets. 

KEBS Managing Director Esther Ngari said the installation of the equipment will greatly reduce testing turnaround times, improving both efficiency and compliance.  

She noted that the enhanced capacity will enable KEBS laboratories to process higher sample volumes with greater speed and accuracy, ultimately strengthening the quality evaluation process for Kenyan products. 

Ngari highlighted that analyses previously requiring up to six hours can now be completed within one hour. She added that near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy results, which once took seven days, are now available in a minute.  

According to her, the upgraded systems will help reduce rejection rates for Kenyan exports by improving product consistency and ensuring alignment with global standards. 

The initiative is expected to boost Kenya’s economic competitiveness by enabling manufacturers and exporters to meet market requirements more reliably and efficiently. 

Call for complaince 

In addition to unveiling the laboratory equipment, KEBS has called on institutions across the country to shift from compliance-focused approaches toward integrated systems that enhance long-term organisational performance.  

Speaking at the opening of the 6th annual management representatives and auditors conference in Mombasa, Ngari emphasised the importance of harmonising operational systems to achieve sustainable excellence. 

She stated that modern organisational effectiveness depends on the alignment of quality, governance, environmental, safety, risk and information security systems. 

According to her, excellence requires coherence and coordination rather than isolated compliance processes or checkbox-style certifications. 

This year’s conference, held under the theme “Synergy in Systems: Coordinating for Excellence, Auditing for Impact,” encourages institutions to adopt transformative auditing practices that strengthen operational insights and drive strategic value. 

Ngari urged participants to view audits as mechanisms for identifying systemic risks, enhancing cross-functional collaboration and improving organisational learning. She stressed that audits should be designed to measure real impact on efficiency, customer confidence, environmental responsibility and national competitiveness. 

KEBS continues to expand training through the National Quality Institute, equipping auditors, managers and management representatives to conduct audits that evaluate tangible organisational outcomes.  

Ngari reminded delegates that Kenya’s future competitiveness depends on quality-driven systems across public institutions, universities, manufacturing enterprises, SMEs and service sectors. 

She called on leaders to promote systems thinking, ensure institutional coherence and prioritise meaningful impact over routine compliance. 

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