Kebs now shifts focus to MSMEs to reverse 'State victim fear' tag

Many small traders, as well as those who import their products or manufacture overseas, have found themselves on the wrong side of the law for not having the right documentation for their products. This leads to a cat-and-mouse chase when KEBS and its sister agencies carry out market surveillance.

Additionally, the number of product certifications for big manufacturers, which stands at 17,500 compared to 6,400 for small and medium businesses, has been a concern to KEBS. This is because 98 percent of businesses in the country are SMEs according to the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM).