Kenya Bureau of Statistics (KEBS) now claims that the statement by Acting Managing Director, Esther Ngari, that some products manufactured locally and sold in supermarkets and not tested was taken out of context.
In a statement issued on Friday, August 11, the agency revealed that for products to be placed on the shelves, they need to have a diamond mark of quality - a superior mark issued only after the product undergoes a thorough testing process.
The question of fake products entering the market surfaced after Ngari, on Thursday, August 10, admitted that the agency trusts the manufacturers, who are certified, to protect consumers by selling high-quality goods.
"Issuance of the standardisation mark attests to an assessed capability to manufacture compliant products but does not transfer the responsibility for ensuring compliance of the specific products being manufactured in the assessed factory to the government or the regulator," Ngari stated while appearing before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
KEBS thus argued that products undergo a five-step process to ensure compliance with the current standards in the market.
The first process involves vetting the manufacturer to verify that they are a registered legal entity. KEBS then inspects the manufacturing premises to assess the capability of the manufacturing process to guarantee that the products will be safe for human use or consumption.
"This entails controls to ensure that the raw materials used are of the right quality, production is managed within specified conditions, and final products are properly packaged and labelled per the required standards.
"Further, the manufacturer is required to test or make arrangements for testing their products on a regular basis. Records of these quality measures must be maintained and produced to KEBS for verification during surveillance inspections," KEBS statement read in part.
The agency also added that it samples and tests the product before issuing a certification mark. The manufacturer must sign a certification contract with KEBS, which is a systematic guide to guarantee that the manufacturer shall implement the quality assurance activities as agreed throughout the validity period.
According to KEBS, it continuously monitors the products after they are released to the public during the certification's validity period. Additionally, the agency conducts surveillance inspections, with sampling done at the factory or market.
"Manufacturing and monitoring are two distinct realms. While KEBS defines and oversees adherence to standards, manufacturers are responsible for producing goods that meet these benchmarks.
"This dynamic creates a system anchored in trust - a trust fortified by stringent protocols and consequential penalties for deviations," the statement read in part.
KEBS emphasised that its mandate is to provide standardisation and ensure that products sold in the market conform to the standards to enhance and safeguard and enhance the life of the consumer.
Meanwhile, Ngari's admission raised concerns from the members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) who claimed the agency was sleeping on its mandate.
"We need to amend the law to provide punitive measures such as life imprisonment for KEBS officials exposing the lives of people," PAC chair, Nominated MP John Mbadi, stated during the proceedings.
