The Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry Lee Kinyanjui has urged local manufacturers to adopt the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS)’ Diamond Mark of Quality to enhance their competitiveness and build sustainable businesses.
Kinyanjui at the same time pledged the government’s commitment to empowering manufacturers by smoothening regulations relating to importation like the Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) program which would enhance production and trade for local manufacturers.
He spoke at the Serena Hotel Tuesday during a breakfast meeting to honor holders of the KEBS’ Diamond Mark of Quality.
Kinyanjui pointed out that products bearing the Diamond Mark carried the pride of the country wherever they are placed, often emerging as the products of choice when customers are making their purchasing decision.
The Cabinet Secretary who was accompanied by the Principal Secretary, State Department of Industry, Dr. Juma Mukhwana, said harmonization of regional quality standards had made it easier for local products to penetrate regional markets with products bearing the Diamond Mark of Quality enjoying a competitive edge.
He also observed that Kenya’s certification scheme had gained widespread recognition within Africa and beyond, which was helping boost the country’s opportunities for continental trade through the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA).
Kinyajui however urged the local enterprises to invest in quality excellence so as to stand a chance of playing at the continental and global level. “In the pursuit of sustainable development, our industries must adopt best practices and invest in professional development to cultivate a culture where quality is not only a standard to uphold but a value we live by”, he stated.
The Cabinet Secretary urged local manufacturers to work closely with KEBS to align their quality and capacity so that they can take advantage of the vast trade opportunities within the ACFTA stating, “Through the quality management frameworks of the Kenya Bureau of Standards, we empower Kenyan industries to compete on a global scale. This, in turn, attracts foreign investment and positions Kenya as a hub for quality-driven development in Africa”.
He said the government prioritizes quality as a national goal, and was willing to support manufacturers to attain excellence in quality through establishment of the requisite physical and policy infrastructure.
“By prioritizing quality as a national goal, we are building a system that supports local businesses, drives innovation, and ensures sustainable, inclusive growth that reaches every Kenyan”, said the Cabinet Secretary adding that the commitment by manufacturers to the highest level of quality supports the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda leading to job creation and growth of the GDP through local manufacturing and exports.
The Cabinet Secretary at the same time announced that the government is keen to strengthen the KEBS’ Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) exemption program for importation of raw materials used in manufacturing, plants and industrial spare parts so as to strengthen manufacturing by ensuring that these inputs are made available without payment of duty as well as reducing the time taken to import by exempting them from delays that may be caused during inspection.
The breakfast meeting which attracted several Chief Executive Officers of leading companies was hosted by KEBS and was also addressed by the Chairman of the National Standards Council (NSC) Dr. Chris Wamalwa, as well as the KEBS’ Managing Director, Esther Ngari.
Dr. Wamalwa said the Diamond Mark of Quality has been a vision that has helped position Kenyan products on the global map through world-class quality representing consistency, safety, and discipline. “The Diamond Mark of Quality goes beyond minimum compliance by demonstrating unwavering commitment to product excellence, sustainability, and consumer safety. It symbolizes consistent quality, robust internal controls, and a demonstrated commitment to safeguarding both consumer health and the environment.”, he stated.
KEBS administers three product certification schemes: the mandatory Standardization Mark, the Fortification Mark, and the voluntary Diamond Mark. To qualify for the Diamond Mark of Quality, manufacturers must first meet relevant Kenya Standards, provide at least three sets of compliance test results for initial certification and four sets annually for renewal.
They must also implement internationally recognized management systems such as the ISO 9001 for quality or the ISO 22000 for food safety. They must also embed quality and environmental consciousness into their daily operations.
Permit holders gain more than just a symbol of trust. They enjoy faster access to markets, smoother trade processes, improved export opportunities, and stronger brand positioning. And one powerful but often overlooked benefit is exemption from Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVOC) inspections for imports into Kenya.
In her remarks, the KEBS Managing Director said the KEBS Diamond Mark of Quality was a preserve of organizations whose processes have stood the test of rigorous evaluation, continuous improvement, and unwavering commitment to quality.
Ngari said since KEBS introduced the Diamond Mark of Quality in 1996, some 1,263 products, both local and international, have been awarded the Mark describing the Mark as a symbol that symbolizes the rarest kind of achievement in manufacturing which signifies consistency in excellence.
She however pointed out that achieving the Diamond Mark was not an end in itself and there was a need to continue strengthening our certification process by aligning it to the best global practices, including ISO/IEC 17065:2012. Surveillance, compliance audits, and performance monitoring which are integral to preserving the integrity of the Diamond Mark of Quality.
KEBS is intensifying its market surveillance efforts including for overseas manufacturers to ensure that products bearing the D-Mark continue to reflect the excellence it promises.
The Managing Director at the same time assured SMEs that quality was attainable and was not a preserve of multinationals announcing that KEBS was scaling up awareness campaigns to encourage new entrants into the Diamond Mark Scheme.
She ended by inviting local enterprises to submit applications for the 2025 edition of the Kenya Quality Awards which will be announced later in the year.
