Kenya reaffirms commitment to global standards at International Accreditation Conference

Kenya has reaffirmed its commitment to global quality standards and innovation as the International Accreditation Conference (IAC 2025) officially opened in Mombasa on Wednesday.

The historic event brings together experts and policymakers from across the world to explore the future of accreditation in an era of rapid technological change.

Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS) Chief Executive Officer Dr Walter Ongeti said the global meeting offers a crucial platform for Kenya and its partners to learn from early adopters of new technologies shaping conformity assessment.

“We have invited the early adopters of this technology, to see what is it that we can learn from each other so that we strengthen the role that we undertake as an accreditation body so that when we go to check and it is a robot that is undertaking an activity that was being done by a human being, what assurance can we give the public that this testing is being done properly and it meets the international standards?” said Dr. Ongeti.

He added that Kenya must remain proactive in adapting to the technological changes transforming global industries for the country to move into a first-world nation.

“We cannot say that we can tilt the direction in which technology is being implicated, but how do we adapt and adopt these technological innovations in the work that we do so that we also get to where His Excellency the President is saying we need to move to the first world,” he said.

Dr Ongeti emphasised that accreditation is a vital pillar in building trust, enabling trade, and safeguarding consumers, which are critical components for Kenya’s vision of transitioning into a first-world economy.

Speaking at the same event, Dr Celestine Okanya, CEO of the Nigeria National Accreditation System (NiNAS) and Chair of the Africa Accreditation Cooperation (AFRAC), said accreditation plays a powerful role in improving systems, strengthening quality infrastructure, and fostering credibility across industries

“Our work is not the type you move on the shelf, or it's not structures you build, but you stay behind to shape the behaviour and the output of the people that carry out conformity assessment,” said Okanya.

Brahim Houla, Director of Accreditation Services at the GCC Accreditation Centre (GAC) and Chair of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA), lauded Kenya’s leadership in hosting the event and promoting dialogue on global best practices.

“This is a very important forum for us to discuss questions on the practices of conformity assessment and how accreditation can be the solution and the trust making for conformity assessment, trade facilitation and consumer protection,” said Houla.

The conference has attracted participants from across the world, including the United States, Germany, Bahrain, Mauritius, South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan and Botswana.