Kenya will make history this November as it hosts the first-ever International Accreditation Conference (IAC 2025), bringing together global experts to discuss how accreditation can boost trade, innovation, and competitiveness.
Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS) Chief Executive Officer Dr. Walter Ongeti said during a pre-event media briefing in Nairobi, the event is expected to deepen trust in locally made goods and services.
Accreditation he emphasized remains a key enabler for trade facilitation, allowing goods, services, and professionals to move more freely across borders.
Accreditation is critical because theres the element of trade facilitation and the underlying principle is that accredited ones are accepted globally, said Dr. Ongeti.
He said Kenyas status as a signatory to major global and regional accreditation bodies including the International Accreditation Forum, the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation, and the African Accreditation Cooperation guarantees global recognition of certificates issued by accredited Kenyan entities.
When our accredited entities issue a certificate, whether its an inspection or a testing certificate, that document is accepted across over 170 countries that are part of these mutual recognition arrangements. That means barriers at borders are reduced, easing the movement of goods and services, he explained.
Dr. Ongeti noted that accreditation not only strengthens trade but also builds confidence in the quality of Made in Kenya goods, especially as African countries align their quality standards under the AfCFTA framework.
Acceptance of our professionals across the continent and beyond becomes easier within the AfCFTA framework. Our goods can now be accepted in other markets with ease because they meet international requirements verified by accredited entities.
The IAC 2025 conference, scheduled to start form November 11th to 14th in Mombasa County, comes at a time when Kenya is stepping up efforts to promote local manufacturing through government initiatives such as Buy Kenya, Build Kenya, and to increase the continents self-reliance through Made in Africa campaigns.
“The government is very deliberate in pushing the Buy Kenya, Build Kenya and Made in Africa initiatives. Through the quality infrastructure, which includes standards and accreditation, we can drive these initiatives to ensure what we produce locally meets and even exceeds global standards, said Dr. Ongeti.
