Reflecting on a golden year of quality, impact and progress

The year 2024 has been a remarkable journey—a year of challenges, breakthroughs, and decisive action. For the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), celebrating our 50th anniversary this year has been more than a reflection on the past; it has been a call to action. A call to uphold our promise of safeguarding consumers, ensuring quality, and meeting the evolving demands of a nation on the move.

Fifty years ago, KEBS was established to protect you—the consumer. In 2024, we have lived this promise with unwavering resolve, navigating complexities and delivering results that have defined Kenya’s standards landscape. This golden jubilee is a story of resilience, innovation, and consumer trust as we tackle the fundamental challenges of upholding quality in a world of change.

Journey of Precision and Impact

One of the defining achievements of 2024 was KEBS successfully filing its calibration and measurement capabilities in small volume and temperature platinum resistance with the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) Key Comparison Database. This is not just a technical milestone; it is a promise that every measurement matters—a temperature reading in a hospital fridge, the weight of your child’s medicine, or the volume of fuel at the pump. Accuracy saves lives, prevents loss, and builds confidence.

By anchoring Kenya’s measurements to international standards, KEBS has elevated safety and precision for industries and consumers alike. It means that when you purchase a product, you can trust it to be what it claims to be—no more, no less.

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Yet precision is not without its challenges. It requires constant vigilance, global benchmarking, and the relentless pursuit of improvement. In 2024, we proved that Kenya can rise to the occasion, cementing our place in the global measurement ecosystem.

Consumer Safety is Shared Responsibility

The year 2024 has also been a year of listening, learning, and collaborating. KEBS deepened its engagements with industries, bringing together manufacturers, regulators, and consumers to ensure that safety is non-negotiable. Through capacity-building workshops, we equipped industry professionals with the tools to deliver safer products and services.

However, achieving safety is not without its hurdles. In a world where shortcuts tempt, and compliance can feel like a burden, KEBS stood firm. We worked closely with businesses to address gaps, tackle substandard products, and reinforce the message that quality is not an option; it is an obligation. Every time you see a KEBS mark of quality, it is a symbol of that collective effort—a silent assurance that someone, somewhere, is looking out for you.

The year also witnessed a notable increase in firms achieving the Diamond Mark of Quality certification. This mark represents the best of Kenyan industry—products that have been tested, verified, and trusted. For you, the consumer, it is peace of mind. For businesses, it is a reminder that success lies not in cutting corners but in earning trust through quality.

Facing the Challenges: The Pursuit of Excellence

As this year unfolded, KEBS expanded its scope of calibration services, addressing the growing needs of industries that rely on precise measurements. From medical devices to industrial equipment, calibration ensures that what you see is what you get—safely and reliably.

Yet challenges remain. Substandard products still pose risks, and emerging technologies demand new standards. In response, KEBS published key emerging standards this year, guiding industries toward best practices and aligning Kenya with global innovations. These standards are more than guidelines; they are shields that protect consumers from harm and help businesses thrive.

The Golden Jubilee: A Commitment to Tomorrow

In celebrating 50 years, we recognise that milestones are not destinations. The journey toward quality and consumer safety is ongoing. KEBS’ golden jubilee has been a year of action—one that has solidified our role as Kenya’s frontline defender against substandard goods.

2024 was a testament to what can be achieved when precision meets purpose. When businesses commit to quality, and consumers demand it. When regulators, industries, and citizens work together to build a safer, more reliable Kenya.

As we look beyond this golden year, our focus remains steadfast: protecting you, the consumer. Every standard we set, every product we test, and every firm we certify is part of a promise—to keep you safe, to build trust, and to uphold quality at all costs.

A Future of Quality, Safety, and Trust

The year 2024 will be remembered as a turning point—a year when KEBS turned challenges into opportunities and reaffirmed its role as a guardian of quality. As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, we do so with gratitude and determination.

To the industries that strive for excellence, the professionals who raise the bar, and the consumers who trust us with their safety—this golden milestone is yours. Together, we will shape the next 50 years of progress, ensuring that Kenya’s standards remain synonymous with safety, trust, and innovation.

Here’s to a future where quality is king, safety is sacred, and every consumer knows that behind every mark of quality stands KEBS—a partner, a protector, and a promise.

- Esther Ngari is the Managing Director of the Kenya Bureau of Standards