The Government of Kenya has launched a sweeping reform of its national accreditation system, a move set to dismantle non-tariff barriers and fast-track Kenyan goods into premium international markets. The overhaul targets the Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS), aiming to align it with rigorous global best practices.

In a global economy where "quality" is the currency of trust, Kenya’s exporters have long grappled with the high cost of compliance and the skepticism of foreign markets. The new reforms, anchored in the Kenya Accreditation Service (Amendment) Bill, 2025, seek to strengthen the regulatory framework, ensuring that a "Certified in Kenya" stamp commands respect from Brussels to Beijing.

Closing the Trust Gap

Trade Principal Secretary Alfred K’Ombudo has championed these reforms as a "game-changer" for the manufacturing and agricultural sectors. By enhancing the oversight of Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs)—the labs and agencies that test everything from avocados to steel—the state aims to eliminate the need for expensive re-testing of Kenyan products abroad.

"We are building an infrastructure of trust," the PS stated. "When our labs say a product is safe, the world must believe it. This reform gives KENAS the teeth to weed out quacks and elevate our standards to the ISO tier."

Key Pillars of the Reform

• Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs): fast-tracking deals that allow Kenyan test results to be accepted in the EU and US without question.
• Expanded Scope: Including new sectors like medical diagnostics and environmental verification under KENAS’s purview.
• Enforcement Power: Granting KENAS stronger legal backing to sanction non-compliant certifying bodies.

Economic Implications

For the average Kenyan flower farmer or textile manufacturer, this is not just bureaucratic shuffling. Currently, technical barriers to trade—often disguised as safety standards—cost African economies billions. By harmonizing its accreditation system with international norms, Kenya is effectively lowering the cost of doing business.

The reforms also come at a critical time as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) gains momentum. A robust national quality infrastructure positions Kenya as a standards hub for the region, potentially attracting multinational testing firms to set up their African HQs in Nairobi.

"This is about competitiveness," noted a representative from the Kenya Association of Manufacturers. "If we can prove our quality locally, we compete globally. It is that simple."