African countries have been urged to move beyond consuming foreign technologies and instead take a leading role in setting global standards that will define the clean-energy and digital future.
Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) Managing Director Esther Ngari said Africa must not remain a passive player in the technology revolution, warning that the continent risks marginalisation if it fails to influence global technical rules and industrial norms.
Speaking in Nairobi on Tuesday during the 10th anniversary of the IEC Africa Regional Centre and the inaugural Africa Electrotechnical Quality Infrastructure Week, Ngari said the continent is at a decisive point in its industrial development.
“Africa is at the frontline of the clean-energy transition and digital transformation. To succeed, we must not only adopt global standards, we must define them,” she said.
The high-level event at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre brought together senior government officials, policymakers, industry experts, and representatives from international standards bodies across Africa and beyond.
Ngari said the decision to establish the IEC Africa Regional Centre in Nairobi in 2015 marked a bold shift in Africa’s approach to global technical systems and innovation.
“For the past decade, this Centre has served as a hub for capacity building and knowledge transfer. It has ensured Africa’s voice is heard in global standards-setting,” she said.
“We are no longer at the periphery; we are influencing the direction of electrotechnical development.”
She added that the next decade should focus on elevating Africa from a participant to a key architect in shaping global standards.
With Kenya among the global leaders in renewable energy, Ngari noted that Africa’s energy future will depend heavily on technical standards that guarantee reliability, safety, and investor confidence.
“They are the foundation of trust in our markets. They ensure the safety and reliability of our technologies. And importantly, they open doors to innovation, trade, and economic opportunity,” she stated.
Ngari also emphasised that aligning technical regulations is key to unlocking the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“They enable goods, services, and ideas to move across borders with confidence and credibility. And they support our mission of extending universal electricity access to millions of citizens who remain underserved, ensuring that no community is left behind in our continent’s transformation,” she said.
Ngari reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to supporting the IEC Regional Centre and advancing Africa’s standards capacity.
“As the host nation, Kenya stands ready to back every initiative that strengthens quality infrastructure and expands opportunities for African innovators,” she said.
