The country has reaffirmed its commitment to a culture of quality, innovation and global competitiveness as top companies and institutions were feted at the Kenya Quality Awards 2025 gala dinner in Nairobi on Friday.
The event, organised by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs), celebrated organisations that have demonstrated exceptional excellence in production, service delivery and export competitiveness. It was themed 'Quality: Think Differently', .
Trade PS Juma Mukhwana, who represented Trade CS Lee Kinyanjui, said the government was committed to fostering a culture of quality as a pillar of Kenya’s industrial transformation.
“Kenya’s ambition to become an industrial hub under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda and Vision 2030 rests on quality, the bridge between policy and practice,” Mukhwana said.
“Our industries must continue to innovate, invest in standards and compete globally. Quality certification is the passport that opens new markets and builds investor confidence.”
He applauded the resilience of local industries, noting some have operated since the early 1900s and remain pillars of Kenya’s industrial heritage.
Kebs board chairperson Chris Wamalwa described quality as “the cornerstone of a competitive and sustainable Kenya,” urging organisations to embrace excellence not as an obligation but as national ethos.
“Quality is more than a standard, it is a discipline that drives innovation, efficiency and ethical growth,” he said.
Kebs managing director Esther Ngari said the awards were designed to spotlight organisations redefining quality through innovation, customer focus and data-driven decision-making.
“Quality is not just about compliance; it is about competitiveness, sustainability and national pride,” she said.
“At Kebs, we believe quality is the most powerful language of global trade, a universal currency of trust. We are transforming from a regulator to an enabler of excellence.”
This year’s KQA recognised dozens of outstanding organisations across various sectors.
Kabarak University, Capwell Industries Limited and Embu University emerged as the Overall Winners in the Company of the Year (Large Enterprises) category, while Health Classique Limited, Blesteire Beauty Investment and Aquifina Technologies and Solutions Company topped the SME category.
In the Product of the Year category, Capwell Industries Limited, Kenchic PLC and Haleon Kenya Limited triumphed among large enterprises, while Health Classique Limited, Blesteire Beauty Investment and Amaridina Enterprises took top honours among MSMEs.
For Service of the Year-Private Large Enterprises, Kabarak University and CPF Financial Services were recognised for excellence in innovation and customer satisfaction.
In the Public Sector, Capital Markets Authority, Kenya Electricity Generating Company, and Kenya Medical Training College were celebrated as Service of the Year- Public Large Enterprises, for setting new standards in institutional performance and stakeholder engagement.
In the Exporter of the Year (Agro-Processing, Large Enterprises) category, Kipkebe Tea Company and Kenchic PLC were honoured for strengthening Kenya’s export profile through quality-driven agribusiness.
Winners were selected through a rigorous and transparent process led by an independent jury of industry experts.
The panel evaluated organisations on seven key criteria in leadership, customer focus, engagement of people, evidence-based decision-making, process management, infrastructure and regulatory compliance.
In a parallel milestone, Kebs and the Kenya Accountants and Secretaries National Examination Board (Kasneb) graduated the first cohort of Certified Quality Professionals (CQPs), marking a major step in professionalising quality management in Kenya.
The eight pioneering graduates will serve as lead auditors, management representatives and quality specialists across manufacturing, agribusiness, and service sectors.
“We are proud to recognise the pioneering cohort of Certified Quality Professionals,” Ngari said.
She said the collaboration with Kasneb is about building a national corps of quality champions who will sustain Kenya’s reputation for excellence.
Kasneb CEO Nicholas Letting’ hailed the programme as a transformative milestone in strengthening professionalism and institutional performance.
“These professionals are now equipped to lead systems that deliver consistent excellence. Investing in people is the cornerstone of building a future where quality drives innovation and growth,” he said.
The Certified Quality Professional (CQP-K) programme, offered through Kebs’ National Quality Institute (NQI), equips professionals with skills in auditing, process improvement, risk-based planning, statistical analysis, and customer satisfaction management, ensuring Kenyan firms meet and exceed international standards.
The winners of the KQA 2025 will represent the country at the East African Quality Awards (EAQA), set to be held in Nairobi next month on the sidelines of the SMEs Trade Fair.
The last regional event took place in Uganda.
