Mombasa to host world’s first accreditation conference as Kenya pushes MSME export readiness

Kenya Accreditation Service chief manager for laboratories Lucy Namu, CEO Walter Ongeti and chair of the conference’s organising committee, Felista Nyakoe, at a press conference ahead of the conference. /HANDOUT

Kenya is looking to strengthen the competitiveness of its small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by addressing one of their biggest barriers to growth, the lack of technical and financial capacity to meet international quality standards.

The Kenya Accreditation Service (Kenas), the country’s sole national accreditation body, says it will next week host the world’s first International Accreditation Conference in Mombasa, bringing together global and regional leaders in quality assurance, regulators, industry players, researchers and policymakers to chart a new path for quality-driven trade.

The event, seeks to identify strategies for resource mobilisation and capacity building for small enterprises, ensuring that more local producers can compete in international markets.

“Many MSMEs do not have the funds or technical support to ensure their products meet the standards required for export. We are using this conference to discuss how we can mobilise resources, strengthen capacity, and integrate these enterprises into global value chains,” said Felista Nyakoe, chair of the conference’s organising committee.

Kenya’s accreditation chief Walter Ongeti noted that conformity assessment, which includes testing, inspection, and certification, remains poorly understood, even though it is central to trade facilitation and public safety.

Kenas says that accredited results and certificates that are globally accepted can reduce technical barriers to trade, ease customs clearance, and enhance trust in goods made in Kenya.

The conference will also explore the role of technology and innovation, including artificial intelligence, data integration, and machine learning, in improving testing and certification processes.

Experts say these digital tools can lower compliance costs and open up new opportunities for MSMEs in sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and healthcare.

“Conformity assessment must be seen not just as a bureaucratic requirement but as a business enabler. When MSMEs are properly accredited, they can sell faster, reach new markets, and build consumer confidence both locally and abroad,” Ongeti said.

The five-day meeting will feature representatives from the United States, Germany, Bahrain, Mauritius, Ghana, South Africa, and several East African countries.

Locally, the conference will be graced by senior government officials, including the Head of Public Service, cabinet secretaries, principal secretaries, and CEOs from public and private institutions.

Beyond trade, accreditation also has far-reaching implications for health, safety, and environmental protection, covering sectors such as medical laboratories, construction, automotive testing, and energy.

Kenas says a stronger quality infrastructure will ensure that goods and services produced in Kenya not only meet international benchmarks but also protect local consumers.

The conference’s outcomes are expected to feed into Kenya’s broader “Buy Kenya, Build Kenya” and Made-in-Africa initiatives, which aim to promote regional integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

“Accreditation gives credibility to local products, it helps us move from being consumers of imports to trusted producers of quality goods that meet global standards,” said Ongeti.