KEBS Honours Organisations Driving Quality and Competitiveness at 2026 Quality Awards
By Peace Muthoka
Nairobi, September 18, 2026 – The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has recognised organisations across the country for their efforts to improve quality, innovation and service delivery, with officials calling for greater investment in standards to strengthen businesses and Kenya’s economy.
The Kenya Quality Awards 2026 ceremony was held on Friday at the Argyle Hotel in Nairobi, bringing together organisations from different sectors and sizes, including micro enterprises, small and medium-sized businesses and large corporations.
Deputy Chief of Staff Amos Njoroge Gatecha, who served as the chief guest, said the recognition should encourage organisations to keep improving the way they produce goods, offer services and run their operations.
“I thank KEBS and the organisers for convening these awards and congratulate all the winners, runners-up and participating organisations for their commitment to excellence,” Gatecha said.
He noted that quality should not be treated as a one-time achievement but as a continuous process that requires organisations to keep investing in better systems, new ideas and improved services.
“This recognition should encourage organisations to sustain their investment in quality, innovation and continuous improvement. Quality remains an important ingredient in strengthening enterprises and advancing Kenya’s economic transformation,” he said.
Beyond recognising individual achievements, the awards provided a platform for organisations to assess their performance against others and learn from practices that have helped improve quality. KEBS says the Kenya Quality Awards programme is intended to encourage organisations to benchmark themselves, pursue continuous improvement and strengthen their competitiveness.
KEBS Director General Esther Ngari, meanwhile, challenged organisations not to stop at simply meeting the required standards. Instead, she urged them to continue improving their systems and services as customer expectations and market demands change.
“These awards provide an important platform for recognising organisations that have made quality an integral part of their operations,” Ngari said.
She added that maintaining quality standards would be important for Kenyan businesses seeking to remain competitive in an increasingly demanding market.
“Sustained attention to quality is essential in enabling Kenyan enterprises to remain competitive while meeting the changing expectations of consumers and markets,” she said.
Ngari also reaffirmed KEBS’s commitment to working with businesses and other stakeholders to strengthen quality management systems and promote a culture in which quality becomes part of everyday operations.
For National Standards Council Chairman Chris Wamalwa, the awards also demonstrated the growing role of standards in Kenya’s economic development. He said recognising organisations that have made quality a priority could encourage more businesses to adopt better practices.
“These awards demonstrate the growing importance of quality and standards in Kenya’s economic development,” Wamalwa said.
He further noted that strong standards and effective quality assurance systems can help businesses build consumer confidence, improve productivity and compete in regional and international markets.
The awards covered several categories, including Company of the Year, Product of the Year and Service of the Year, with recognition going to organisations operating at different levels of the economy.
As a result, the ceremony was not only about celebrating winners but also about encouraging businesses to learn from one another and strengthen their operations. The award process includes self-assessment and benchmarking, with participating organisations receiving feedback intended to help them identify areas for improvement.
Ultimately, the officials said, better quality has benefits beyond individual businesses. Reliable products and services can strengthen consumer confidence, support productivity and create opportunities for Kenyan enterprises to compete both locally and in international markets.
The awards therefore placed continuous improvement, innovation and adherence to standards at the centre of efforts to build stronger enterprises and support Kenya’s industrial and economic growth.
