Deputy Chief of Staff Amos Gathecha speaks during the event/KebsDeputy Chief of Staff Amos Njoroge Gatecha has urged Kenyan organisations to sustain investment in quality, innovation and continuous improvement, saying adherence to standards is critical to strengthening enterprises and supporting economic transformation.
Gatecha said organisations should treat quality as a continuous process rather than a requirement to be met only for compliance, as he spoke at the Kenya Quality Awards 2026 in Nairobi Friday night.
He said recognition of organisations that have demonstrated excellence in quality management should encourage more enterprises to improve their systems, products and services.
“This recognition should encourage organisations to sustain their investment in quality, innovation and continuous improvement. Quality remains an important ingredient in strengthening enterprises and advancing Kenya’s economic transformation,” he said.
Gatecha also commended participating organisations for integrating standards and quality management into their operations.
He said effective quality systems contribute to better products and services, increased consumer confidence and improved competitiveness for Kenyan businesses.
KEBS Managing Director Esther Ngari speaks during the event/kebsThe awards, organised by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), brought together organisations from different sectors and sizes, with recognition extended to micro enterprises, small and medium-sized businesses and large corporations.
The overall Company of the Year award went to the Capital Markets Authority.
Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) was named first runner-up in the Service of the Year, Public Large Enterprises category.
The college improved on its performance in 2025, when it was placed second runner-up in the same category.
KEBS managing director Esther Ngari said the awards provide a platform for recognising organisations that have incorporated quality into their operations and made continuous improvement part of their institutional culture.
“These awards provide an important platform for recognising organisations that have made quality an integral part of their operations,” Ngari said.
Deputy Chief of Staff Amos Gathecha (third from left) hands over an award as Kebs managing director Esther Ngari, council's chairperson Nicholas Wamalwa and other guests look on during the event/KebsShe challenged organisations to move beyond basic compliance with standards and continuously strengthen their systems, processes and service delivery.
“Sustained attention to quality is essential in enabling Kenyan enterprises to remain competitive while meeting the changing expectations of consumers and markets,” she said.
Ngari reaffirmed KEBS's commitment to working with industry and other stakeholders to strengthen quality management systems and promote a culture of excellence.
National Standards Council chairman Chris Wamalwa said the awards reflected the growing importance of quality and standards to Kenya's economic development.
He said recognising organisations that excel in quality management could encourage others to adopt best practices.
“These awards demonstrate the growing importance of quality and standards in Kenya’s economic development,” Wamalwa said.
Wamalwa added that strong standards and effective quality assurance systems were essential to building consumer confidence, improving productivity and enabling Kenyan products and services to compete in regional and international markets.
A section of prize winners during the ceremony on September 19, 2026/KebsThe awards included categories such as Company of the Year, Product of the Year and Service of the Year, covering organisations across different sectors and scales.
The ceremony also marked the graduation of eight Certified Quality Professionals (CQP), who completed training aimed at strengthening expertise in quality management and standards adoption.
Ngari congratulated the graduates and urged them to apply their skills in improving quality systems in organisations.
“Go forth and make quality count,” she told the graduates.
The CQP programme equips participants with skills in quality management and continuous improvement, with graduates expected to help organisations translate standards into practical improvements in efficiency, competitiveness and customer satisfaction.
The awards also provided participating organisations with an opportunity to benchmark their performance and learn from quality management practices across different sectors.
