The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has intercepted a container carrying electrical extension sockets valued at approximately Sh2.5 million.
The forty-foot container was seized at the Mitchell Cotts Freight Station in Kibarani, Mombasa.
The consignment, comprising 24,300 pieces of electrical extension sockets packed in 30 cartons, was found to be non-compliant with the safety requirements outlined in KS EAS 495 Parts 1 and 2.
KEBS officials said the sockets lacked essential safety features prescribed in the standard, making them unsuitable for the Kenyan market.
KEBS Managing Director Esther Ngari led the handover of the goods to the Kenya Revenue Authority for either reshipment to the country of origin or destruction at the importer’s expense.
“These electrical extension sockets were found not suitable for the Kenyan market because they lacked safety features prescribed in the standard. Their use would expose consumers to dangers of electrocution and fire,” Ngari said.
The seizure underscores KEBS’s efforts to protect consumers from non-compliant imports.
Ngari noted that the agency remains vigilant in ensuring the quality of products entering the country.
“KEBS has remained vigilant and proactive in ensuring the safety of products in the Kenyan market through the development of standards, adoption of international standards, rigorous testing, and inspection of imports at both source and destination points,” she said.
KEBS added that it had enhanced market surveillance to monitor goods at entry points and in local markets for compliance with Kenyan standards.
The interception of the container in Mombasa is part of a wider crackdown on non-compliant imports that could pose risks to public safety.
KEBS urged importers to comply with safety standards and consult the agency for guidance before bringing products into Kenya.
“We urge all importers to comply with set standards to avoid losses associated with the seizure or destruction of goods,” Ngari said.
The bureau has also invested in modern testing facilities and strengthened collaboration with other government agencies, including KRA, to support enforcement.
As the regulatory body tasked with ensuring product quality, KEBS reiterated its commitment to consumer protection and fair trade practices.
The seizure of the extension sockets highlights the ongoing efforts to curb non-compliant imports and reflects KEBS’s policy on ensuring only safe products reach the market.
