Efficient and professional Kebs will guarantee quality goods

NAIROBI: Last week I attended a conference organised by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs). It is one of the few government institutions that are in a direct line of fire every time fatalities or injuries occur from consumer goods that, prior to entering the market, must have the seal of approval. Ensuring quality and safety is the primary responsibility of Kebs.

Earlier this year, there was an outcry over the effects of unlicensed, often poisonous alcoholic brew that led President Uhuru Kenyatta to declare an all out war on illicit brew. There have been incidences of imported maize laden with aflatoxin resulting in unnecessary deaths. There have been cases of expired or uninspected cosmetics and foodstuffs finding their way onto supermarket shelves, endangering lives. Products have been finding their way into the Kenyan market without the prerequisite certification or meeting international standards. Fighting counterfeit and substandard goods is the mandate of Kebs.