Kenya Standards development process

The development of Kenya Standards is a systematic, multi-stage process meticulously designed to ensure consensus, technical soundness, and relevance within both national and international contexts. This process typically involves six main stages including the final publication and gazettement. This structure is designed to ensure the technical robustness, broad stakeholder consensus, and legal compliance of every final standard. Each stage contributes uniquely to the quality assurance of a standard.

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Who develops standards

The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) is responsible for the development, adoption, and implementation of national standards in Kenya. KEBS works in collaboration with stakeholders to ensure that standards align with national, regional, and international requirements.

1

Proposal Stage- Initiation and Justification

The journey of a new Kenya Standard begins with the proposal stage, where formal requests for development can originate from a diverse array of stakeholders. These include manufacturers, service providers, consumers, existing members of Technical Committees (TCs), government ministries, corporate bodies, or Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).
Proposals are either made electronically through the KEBS Integrated Management System KIMS or directed in writing to the Managing Director of KEBS.
Once a proposal for a new work item is received or identified, the designated TC secretary is assigned the responsibility of preparing a comprehensive justification document. This document is crucial, as it must clearly outline the proposed standard’s title, scope, purpose, and intended application.
Following the preparation of this justification, the TC Secretary proceeds by either convening a formal TC meeting to deliberate on the proposal or circulating a New Work Item ballot form, along with the justification, to all TC members, allowing them a period to respond. The proposal is the presented to the Standards Project Committee for the development of a new Kenya Standards. If approved, the project is then moved to the Committee stage.

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2

Committee Stage – Drafting and Deliberation by Technical Committees (TCs)

Upon the approval of a project. This stage marks the initial formal deliberation of the preliminary draft by the Technical Committee. At this point, the draft formally transitions its designation to “committee draft,” reflecting its current status within the development pipeline. The TC secretary is responsible for incorporating all necessary changes into the draft, directly based on the resolutions and decisions made during the TC meeting. This iterative process ensures that the draft evolves through expert input. The Committee draft is then advanced to the Public Review stage, contingent upon its formal acceptance by the Technical Committee, signifying that it is ready for broader stakeholder input.

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3

Public Review Stage – Stakeholder Consultation and Feedback Mechanisms

The Public Review Stage is a critical phase for ensuring transparency and broad stakeholder input. The draft is systematically disseminated to a carefully selected array of organizations and departments deemed likely to have a vested interest in the standard. This distribution includes, but is not limited to, existing TC members, other manufacturers and service providers, and relevant internal KEBS departments (such as Testing services, Quality assurance, and Import/Export departments), as well as other National Standards Bodies and foreign bodies. The Public Review Draft is also sent for official notification to the World Trade Organization (WTO). This notification is a crucial step that underscores KEBS’s adherence to international trade obligations and transparency requirements under the WTO Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreement.

A formal covering letter and a standardized comments template are attached to the draft, providing a maximum period of 60 days for interested parties to submit their public review comments. The Public review draft progresses to the subsequent balloting stage if it is formally accepted based on the feedback received.

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4

Balloting Stage – Final Technical Review and Acceptance Criteria

During the balloting stage, the TC Manager prepares a final ballot draft.

This period allows TC members to cast their votes and provide any final technical comments. Following the 21-day response period, the TC secretary compiles a comprehensive summary of the balloting results, with all submitted comments appended to the summary. This compilation ensures that all feedback, whether supportive or critical, is systematically documented.
If the draft successfully meets the predefined acceptance criteria it is permitted to proceed to the next stage.
Conversely, if the draft fails to meet the acceptance criteria, it is formally referred back to the Technical Committee for further deliberations.

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5

Standards Approval Committee (SAC) Stage – Formal Endorsement

The Standards Approval Committee (SAC) stage represents the penultimate step in the formal approval of a Kenya Standard.

However, if a decision by the SAC impacts the technical meaning of the draft, the standard is deferred back to the relevant Technical Committee. The TC is then required to re-examine the draft in light of the SAC’s proposal before it can be presented at a subsequent SAC meeting, ensuring that all technical issues are thoroughly clarified and addressed.

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6

Gazettement and Publication – Legalization and Official Dissemination

The final stage of the standards development process involves the formal gazettement and widespread publication of the approved standard, transforming it into a legally binding instrument. This critical step must be completed no later than three weeks after the SAC meeting, ensuring timely legal enactment.

Upon gazettement, the standards acquire legal binding force, and compliance becomes mandatory for all relevant parties after a period of 42 days from the date of publication in the official gazette.

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7

Systematic review

The systematic review of Kenya Standards at the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) is a structured process done every 5 years, aimed at ensuring that standards remain relevant and aligned with the needs of users and stakeholders, regulatory requirements, and scientific and technological developments.

These reviews are done every five years after a standard’s publication. However, revision of a standard can occur any time if deemed necessary due to health and safety concerns, changing business needs and technological advancements.

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Current Standardization Projects
Public Participation
International Standardization

Standards for Public review

These are draft standards made available for public consultation before final approval. Stakeholders, including industries, consumers, and regulatory bodies, are invited to provide feedback to ensure the standards meet national and regional needs.

Standards for Public review

Standards proposed for adoption

These are international or regional standards that KEBS intends to adopt as national standards. The adoption process ensures alignment with global best practices while considering Kenya’s specific needs and regulatory framework.

Standards Proposed for Adoption

Standards for systematic review

Existing standards undergo periodic reviews to assess their relevance, effectiveness, and need for revision. This ensures they remain up-to-date with technological advancements, regulatory changes, and market demands.

Standards for Systematic Review

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Inclusivity

Stakeholder Engagement: KEBS Involves a wide range of stakeholders, including industry representatives, consumer groups, government agencies, and the general public.

Open Forums: We conduct public forums and workshops to gather input and feedback from diverse groups.

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Transparency

Access to Information: We provides access to draft standards and related documents to the public for review and comments.

Notification: We Issues public notifications about upcoming standards development activities and opportunities for participation

Public participation in the standards development process in Kenya is a vital aspect of ensuring that the standards are inclusive, transparent, and reflective of the needs and interests of all stakeholders.

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