By Eddah Waithaka
The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) is rolling out a nationwide awareness campaign for its new Standards Levy Order 2025, launching the initiative with a high-level stakeholder forum in Nairobi Yesterday.
The event at the Jacaranda Hotel brought together manufacturers, trade associations, regulatory agencies, and the public to review the proposed levy, which aims to modernize Kenya’s standards framework and strengthen industry compliance.
Mr. Adan Mohammed, KEBS Director of Finance and Strategy, officially opened the session, representing Managing Director Esther Ngari.
He stressed that the agency needs inclusive dialogue to build a balanced regulatory environment.
“The world has changed dramatically, and so must we,” Mohammed told attendees. “This review ensures that our standards system remains responsive to new realities, from digital trade to complex global supply chains.”
He explained that the 2025 order will update a framework first introduced in 1990, aligning Kenya’s standards with current global practices and technological advancements.
“Transformation is not a quick race; it requires strategy, patience, and unity,” he noted. “This process is not just a KEBS initiative, it is a national vision shaped by the people of Kenya, for the benefit of all.”
The new levy order introduces updated provisions for collecting and managing fees from manufacturers and traders.
The funds will strengthen KEBS’ capacity for quality control, safety enforcement, and conformity assessments.
KEBS confirmed that the agency will hold similar stakeholder awareness forums across seven regions to ensure nationwide participation. These sessions will give businesses a chance to understand the levy’s implications and how it supports compliance and fair competition.
Participants at the Nairobi forum praised KEBS for its inclusive approach, stating that the process builds trust between regulators and industry.
Many expressed optimism that the updated framework will promote sustainable industrial growth and solidify Kenya’s position as a regional leader in quality assurance.
KEBS will continue the nationwide awareness campaign over the coming weeks as it gathers public feedback before finalizing the Standards Levy Order 2025.
