The outdated 1974 standards law KEBS wants changed

Detailed summary

KEBS Director-General Esther Ngari says the existing Standards Act, which dates back to 1974, was designed for a very different economy, when the number of regulated industries wa…

The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) Managing Director Esther Ngari speaks to the media in Nairobi on December 8, 2025.

The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) is pushing for sweeping changes to the law governing its operations, saying the current legislation is increasingly inadequate to deal with emerging business practices, particularly the growing trade in online marketplaces.

The proposed changes, contained in the Standards Bill, seek to give the regulator new powers to oversee a rapidly changing business environment, strengthen enforcement through tougher penalties and improve consumer protection.

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