The people of Kenya have been called upon by the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry (MITI) to provide their comments on the drafted Standards Bill 2025, a bill that is poised to revolutionize the regulation of goods and services in the country.
In a statement issued this week, the ministry set out the bill aims to introduce a clear legal framework for standardisation, metrology, and conformity assessment critical components which ensure products meet safety and quality requirements before making it into the hands of consumers.
It would affect businesses and the general public if it’s enacted. Positively, it will promote fair trade, increase consumer protection, and simplify cross-border trade.
Negatively, business would have stricter regulations to comply with, including additional checks and the cost of certification and testing.
“The Bill seeks to provide an umbrella framework to facilitate standardization, metrology and conformity assessment in industry and trade, establish the safety and quality of goods and services, and provide for fair trade practice in Kenya,” the notice read in part.
Part of the grand thought behind the bill is to ensure that goods sold in the market are measured correctly and are in line with approved standards to keep buyers and sellers safe.
Public Hearings Begin in October
To gather comment, MITI has organized a series of public hearings across the country between 8th October.
The first one will be held at Sarova Whitesands Hotel in the Coastal area. The consultation will then move on to other parts of the country:
Mt Kenya region – 13th October at Marsabit FK Resort and Spa
North Eastern region – October 15 at Mandera Government Guest House, Garissa
Nyanza region – October 17 at Ciala Resort, Kisumu
North Rift region – October 21 at Sirikwa Hotel, Eldoret
South Rift region – October 23 at Merica Hotel, Nakuru
Nairobi – October 27 at Eka Hotel
The meetings are open to the public or give written comments. The comments can also be sent via email to standardsbill@kebs.org
or from the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) website. The submissions should be done by October 28, 2025.
MITI indicates it is hoping the final bill will see the input of common Kenyans not just policymakers and companies especially as it relates to matters affecting day-to-day life, ranging from the quality of a product to fair pricing.
