Industry Principal Secretary Joe Mukhwana (third left) with KEBS Managing Director Esther Ngari and senior government officials, CEOs, after the signing and adoption of a communiqué to mark the strengthening of national commitment to coordinated and effective Codex implementation across sectors/COURTESY


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Policymakers at a breakfast meeting in Nairobi on Friday discussed the need to strengthen the integration of the Codex Alimentarius framework into Kenya’s food safety and trade policies.

The Codex Alimentarius framework, established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), sets international standards, guidelines, and codes of practice for food safety. Its aim is to protect consumers and ensure fair practices in international food trade.

During the meeting, regulators, line ministries, and private-sector representatives highlighted the importance of anchoring Codex work in national policy. They said this would require clear budget lines for Codex activities, improved coordination between agencies, and sustained political support to enable Kenya to participate effectively in international standard-setting processes.

The forum, hosted by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) through the National Codex Committee (NCC), was held under the theme “Strengthening Policy Support for Codex Work in Kenya.” Officials noted that Codex is not only a technical exercise but also has implications for economic growth and public health.

KEBS Managing Director Esther Ngari said policymakers needed to formally recognise and resource Codex work.

“Today we are sitting for the third time with all agencies involved in Codex work,” she said, noting progress but also gaps that remain. “Our conversation was mainly on the need to have clear budget lines for Codex work. When matters of food safety are being discussed in the country, our voice must be heard so we can open ourselves to trade and safeguard consumers.”

Ngari also highlighted Kenya’s role as the National Codex Contact Point and the contributions made in Codex deliberations. She added that coordination among agencies is important for deeper engagement in international standard-setting.

Industry Principal Secretary Juma Mukhwana linked Codex participation to Kenya’s export ambitions. He said the country, as a Codex signatory, must align its food safety systems with international standards to compete globally.

“Our goal here is to say we need our food to be safe, and for that to happen we need many stakeholders involved,” he said, noting government initiatives including county aggregation and industrial parks, and laboratory support.

Mukhwana added that Kenya’s trade agreements across East Africa, Africa, Europe, the US, and China will yield commercial benefits only if products meet global standards. He cited avocado, macadamia, coffee, tea, and milk as examples of products seeking international markets.

He encouraged collaboration between regulators and the private sector, noting that quality control should be seen as part of market access rather than a barrier.

National Standards Council chairperson Chris Wamalwa said Codex work also addresses consumer protection, public health, and fair trading practices. He recommended that Codex be incorporated into national regulatory frameworks and planning, and that inter-agency coordination and budgetary support be strengthened.

Codex Alimentarius Commission chairperson Allan Azegele highlighted Kenya’s participation in technical submissions and international deliberations. He said consistent engagement has allowed Kenya to influence standards adopted internationally.

The meeting organisers said the forum aimed to inform policymakers and foster institutional support for Codex across cabinet, sectoral, and budgetary levels. They warned that without such support, Codex risks being seen as a purely technical exercise rather than a strategic tool for trade and food safety.

Participants noted challenges, including weak coordination, limited funding, and low awareness at senior government levels, which have constrained Kenya’s influence on global standards and alignment of national regulations.

By the end of the meeting, attendees agreed that food safety should be approached holistically, ensuring consumer protection while supporting exports. The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) is scheduled to host the next meeting.