KENAS Chief Executive Officer Dr. Walter Ongeti. Faith Matete
The Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS) has launched an intensified public consultation process as it seeks to overhaul laws governing accreditation.
The move, officials say, is vital to boosting the global acceptance of Kenyan products and services.
KENAS chief executive officer Walter Ongeti said the review focuses on three proposed legal instruments: the Draft Kenya Accreditation Service (Amendment) Bill, 2025; the Kenya Accreditation Service (General) Regulations, 2025; and the Kenya Accreditation Service (Fees) Regulations, 2025.
Together, the proposals aim to modernise the country’s accreditation system and align it with internationally recognised standards.
Ongeti said strengthening accreditation is central to improving Kenya’s trade competitiveness and ensuring goods and services meet the requirements of global markets.
“Accreditation builds confidence in the work done by laboratories, inspection bodies and certification entities. It assures both local consumers and international buyers that products and services from Kenya comply with accepted global standards,” he said.
He added that a strong framework would allow test results, inspection reports and certifications issued in Kenya to be recognised abroad, reducing the need for costly repeat testing overseas.
Speaking in Kisumu during a regional stakeholder forum attended by participants from Kisumu, Siaya, Vihiga and Busia counties, Ongeti emphasised the critical role of county governments.
“County referral hospital laboratories and inspection services fall within our mandate. Improving accreditation directly supports the quality of healthcare and other public services offered by counties,” he said.
He also linked accreditation to industrialisation efforts, noting that as counties develop industrial parks and aggregation centres under the One County, One Product initiative, accreditation ensures locally produced goods can compete nationally and internationally.
The Kisumu meeting was among the final forums in a series of nationwide consultations.
Stakeholders have until February 6 to submit written views, which will be compiled for review before a virtual validation forum and submission to Parliament through the Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry.
Ongeti encouraged Kenyans to participate actively, saying the goal is to create a legal framework that is inclusive, practical and widely supported.
In a keynote address delivered on behalf of Industry Principal Secretary Dr Juma Mukwana, Patrick Wahome said the reforms form part of broader efforts to strengthen Kenya’s national quality infrastructure.
A credible accreditation system aligned with international standards, he said, will reduce technical trade barriers, expand access to regional and continental markets, and lower costs for Kenyan businesses.
The proposed laws are also expected to clarify accreditation procedures, enhance trust between regulators and traders, and introduce a transparent and sustainable fees framework to support effective service delivery.
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