The Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) of the National Assembly, chaired by Tharaka MP George Murugara, on Friday held deliberations with the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) on a draft Bill that proposes to repeal the Standards Act of 1974 and replace it with a modern regulatory framework.
The committee said the current law has outlived its usefulness and no longer matches the speed of Kenya’s expanding trade and industrial growth.
Murugara noted that the new legislation aims to establish a forward-looking standards regime fit for the next 50 years.
“We cannot regulate a modern economy using a law written in 1974,” Murugara said.
“This Bill must give Kenya a standards framework that is contemporary, enforceable and constitutionally sound.”
Although the Bill technically falls under the Trade Committee, Murugara explained that JLAC is working closely with KEBS to polish the draft and ensure it meets constitutional thresholds before it proceeds to the Cabinet and eventually reaches the House.
He added that the next phase will involve broader stakeholder engagement and extensive public participation.
Industrialisation Principal Secretary Juma Mukhwana told the committee that the proposed law has been crafted with strict adherence to the Constitution.
He said Article 46 places a firm obligation on the State to shield consumers from unsafe or substandard goods, adding, “The existing law simply does not give the government the tools it needs to fulfil this duty.”
He also cited Article 10, saying the Bill reflects the national values of transparency, accountability and sustainable development.
KEBS Managing Director Esther Ngari urged MPs to support a law that delivers clarity, fairness and stronger enforcement.
“We need a system that rewards compliance and decisively deals with negligence and illicit trade,” she said.
Ngari added that KEBS inspectors currently lack adequate authority to shut down non-compliant factories or remove dangerous products.
“We are asking for powers that match the scale of risks facing consumers today,” she said.
KEBS Board Chairperson Chris Wamalwa said the proposed law will finally align the agency’s work with the Constitution. “
"Article 46 guarantees Kenyans the right to quality goods and services. This Bill gives life to that promise,” he said.
He stated the reforms would enhance surveillance, regulation and quality assurance across all sectors.
If adopted, the new Standards Act is expected to modernise KEBS operations, strengthen enforcement and significantly improve consumer safety nationwide.
