Mr. Adan Mohammed, KEBS Director of Finance and Strategy , representing the Managing Director, Ms. Esther Ngari.
Nairobi, Kenya – November 12, 2025:
The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has launched nationwide public awareness on the Standards Levy Order 2025, starting with a high-level validation awareness held at the Jacaranda Hotel in Nairobi.
The forum brought together key players from the manufacturing sector, trade associations, regulatory agencies, and the public to review the new levy order aimed at modernizing Kenya’s standards framework and strengthening compliance across industries.
The session was officially opened by Mr. Adan Mohammed, KEBS Director of Finance and Strategy, who represented the Managing Director, Ms. Esther Ngari. Mr. Mohammed emphasized that inclusive dialogue and stakeholder engagement are essential to developing a balanced regulatory environment that encourages innovation while maintaining product quality and safety.
He explained that the Standards Levy Order 2025 seeks to update the framework first introduced in 1990, which has guided Kenya’s industrial and trade sectors for over three decades. The new levy order, he said, aligns Kenya’s standards regime with current global practices and technological advancements shaping the modern economy.
“The world has changed dramatically, and so must we,” said Mr. Mohammed. “This review ensures that our standards system remains responsive to new realities, from digital trade to complex global supply chains.”
“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 Standards Levy Order 2025 introduces updated provisions for the collection and management of levies from manufacturers and traders, intended to strengthen KEBS’ capacity in quality control, safety enforcement, and conformity assessment across industries.
According to KEBS, similar stakeholder awareness will take place across seven regions in Kenya to ensure nationwide participation. Each session will offer businesses an opportunity to understand the implications of the new levy order and how it supports compliance and fair competition.
Established in 1974 under the Standards Act (Cap 496), KEBS is mandated to promote standardization, metrology, and conformity assessment in commerce and industry. It plays a vital role in safeguarding consumer interests and supporting Kenya’s competitiveness in regional and international markets.
Participants at the Nairobi forum commended KEBS for embracing an open and inclusive approach to policy review, noting that the process enhances accountability and builds trust between regulators and industry players. Many expressed optimism that the updated levy framework would promote sustainable industrial growth and position Kenya as a regional leader in quality assurance.
Nationwide awareness will continue over the coming weeks as KEBS gathers feedback ahead of the finalization of the Standards Levy Order 2025.
