The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) on Thursday, May 18 announced the appointment of Esther Ngari as the acting Managing Director following the suspension of Bernard Njiraini.
According to the statement, Ngari would serve in the position until a substantive replacement is made.
Prior to her appointment, Ngari was KEBS' Director of Standards and Trade.
The Bureau also announced that Bemard Nguyo would take up the position of Acting Director of Quality Assurance and Inspection.
Zachariah Lukorito on the other hand was appointed as the Acting Director of Standards Development and Trade while Peter Makan was appointed as chief Manager of Quality Assurance (Nairobi) in an acting capacity.
"The Acting Manager Inspection (Mombasa Port Office) will be Mutuma Muthuri and the Acting Assistant Manager (Kilindini) will be Henry Sambul.
"We wish them well as they execute their duties. KEBS remains dedicated to its mission of promoting standardization in commerce and industry throughout Kenya," read the statement in part.
The changes by KEBS came after President William Ruto suspended Njiraini and other senior staff for releasing condemned sugar in 2018.
Apart from the quality assurance agency, senior officers at Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and the National Police Service (NPS) were also sent home.
The suspension of the officers was announced in a statement signed by the Head of Public Service Felix Koskei.
"It has since been established that the consignment was irregularly diverted and unprocedurally released. Further, the conditions relating to open and competitive enlisting of the distiller were breached and the applicable taxes were not paid.
"In recognition of the unique mandate of the agencies as vanguards of public health and safety, it is manifest that some officers in the relevant agencies abdicated their responsibilities, at the risk of public harm," read the statement in part.
