The Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry has invited public input on proposed reforms aimed at aligning Kenya’s accreditation systems with international best practices, as part of efforts to strengthen product quality and consumer protection.
The proposed Kenya Accreditation Service (Amendment) Bill, 2025, is currently under review and seeks, among other changes, to update accreditation fees that have remained unchanged for the past 17 years. As part of the public participation process, the Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS) held a stakeholder forum in Embu County to gather views from the public and industry players.
Speaking during the forum, Industrialization Principal Secretary Professor Erastus Gatebe said the proposed law will enhance the quality of goods and services, protect consumers, and position Kenyan products to better access regional and global markets through internationally recognized accreditation standards.
Meanwhile, Kenya is set to significantly boost its medical oxygen capacity with the near completion of a Sh5.2 billion medical oxygen manufacturing plant. The facility, being developed by Hewatele at Tatu Industrial Park, is expected to more than double local oxygen supply and ease persistent shortages.
Currently, about 75 per cent of Kenya’s medical oxygen is imported, with delivery often taking up to six weeks. Hewatele Chief Executive Officer Dr. Zulfiqar Wali said the new plant will cut delivery times to about 24 hours and supply more than half of the country’s oxygen demand once operational.
The factory is designed to produce up to 20 tonnes of medical oxygen daily and will serve approximately 300 health facilities across the country, strengthening healthcare resilience and reducing reliance on imports.
