Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) struggles to procure certain goods because suppliers avoid biding for tenders at the agency, MPs were told on Thursday.
Kebs managing director Bernard Njiraini told the National Cohesion and Equal Opportunity Committee of the National Assembly that tenders for some commodities never attract the interest of suppliers.
“Suppliers shy away because they feel their goods may be subjected to further quality tests when they deliver them,” he said.
Njiraini said some of these tenders are reserved for youth, women and persons with disabilities who are also not keen to grab the opportunity.
“We do not want to be seen as the police but as facilitators to trade. Our spirit is to encourage the growth of businesses as we maintain standards,” he stated.
Njiraini said the agency has problems procuring even basic commodities like water.
“Maybe it is the fear of the unknown that stops people from wanting to supply us with basic commodities,” he said.
Kasipul MP Charles Ong'ondo Were accused Njiraini of contradicting himself on the award of tenders by the agency.
“At one point you tell us that youth, women and persons with disabilities don’t get tenders at Kebs because they do not have the capacity to supply commodities then you now tell us they shy away,” he said.
Kebs is involved in the preparation of standards relating to products, measurements, materials and processes.
It has remained the premier government agency for the provision of Standards, Metrology and Conformity Assessment (SMCA) services since its inception in 1974.
Over that period its main activities have grown from the development of standards and quality control for a limited number of locally made products in the 1970s to the provision of more comprehensive Standards development, Metrology, Conformity Assessment, Training and Certification services.
Kebs is a member of the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO).
