Following the announcement of the first case of Coronavirus in the country last week, manufacturers of the now in-demand hand sanitisers knew they would make a kill.

Kenyans rushed to supermarkets to stock up on the sanitisers as some suspected a lockdown and a spot check around popular malls showed shoppers picking as many as eight at a go.

This led some supermarkets to introduce a limited purchase policy on the sanitisers, instructing buyers to only pick three packets.

As expected, there was increased demand for the products and this forced some manufacturers to burn the midnight oil in a bid to capitalize on the ‘opportunity.’

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Unfortunately, some tried to beat the system by producing substandard products and quickly releasing them into the market out of greed.

As a result, the market was flooded with both genuine and fake sanistisers.

How to check whether the one you are using is fake

Although the government has encouraged hand washing and sanitization to help curb the spread of Coronavirus, using the wrong product might put you at risk.

Sanitisers and wipes contain antiseptic agents used to cleanse hands when soap and water are not available and they offer protection by preventing or reducing bacteria, viruses and other pathogens that can cause infections.


It is important to note that the Kenya Bureau of Standards certifies sanitisers based on the following specifications:

  • Ethanol content of 60% by volume
  • PH of between 6-8%
  • Microbial efficacy of 99.9%

That said, to check whether the sanitiser you are using is genuine, follow these steps:

  • Look for the Standardization Mark Permit on the product
  • Send the code (numbers) underneath the logo to 20023 (SM#Code and send to 20023) or ISM#permit number for imported products
  • This should give you the manufacturing details of the products and permit validity status

If the details are different, report to KEBS toll-free number 1545.


On Thursday KEBS released names of the hand sanitisers that have not the minimum requirements and warned Kenyans against buying them.

They were:

  • Angelicas luxury hand sanitiser
  • LULU hand sanitiser
  • Vicente hand sanitiser,
  • San gel sanitiser
  • Goldmaxx quality choice sanitiser
  • OPTZAH advanced sanitiser
  • Dulax sanitiser
  • O-germs sanitiser