The war against counterfeit goods took a major leap forward yesterday as the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) revealed powerful new tools to help consumers identify genuine products. During a media workshop at a Nairobi hotel, Kabue John, Acting Chief Manager of Quality Assurance at KEBS, dropped a bombshell announcement that could change how Kenyans shop forever.
“Every day, we’re fighting to keep substandard goods off our shelves,” declared Kabue, his voice ringing with conviction. “But today, we’re putting that power directly in consumers’ hands.” The game-changer? A lightning-fast SMS verification system that works on any Safaricom line. Just spot the permit number under a product’s KEBS mark and within seconds you’ll know if you’re holding the real deal or a dangerous knockoff.
But that’s not all. KEBS is rolling out three distinct certification marks that act like a product’s quality passport. The Import Standardization Mark (ISM) guards all imported goods with a unique tracking number. Local products boast the Standardization Mark (SM).
Behind the scenes, KEBS investigators are conducting surprise factory raids and lab tests that would make a spy movie proud. “We’re not just checking final products,” Kabue revealed. “We’re inspecting raw materials, production lines, everything. When you see our mark, it means we’ve vetted the entire process from start to finish.”
Despite these efforts, counterfeiters continue flooding the market with everything from potentially deadly fake alcohol to substandard original formula. But here’s where every Kenyan becomes a hero: the Wajibika Initiative hotline (1545) turns concerned shoppers into undercover quality agents.
