Kenya Investment Authority Chief Executive Dr. Moses Ikiara has been appointed as the Acting Managing Director of Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).
Dr. Moses Ikiara will be in office for the next three months.
The appointment of Ikiara comes after the arrest of KEBS MD Charles Ongwae last week where he is accused of releasing contaminated fertilizer in the market.
Ongwae and seven other officials from KEBS and Kenya Revenue Authority were charged on Tuesday with attempted murder and abuse of office.
The eight denied the charges of unlawfully releasing the fertilizer which is suspected to contain mercury and believed to have been shipped from Morocco by OCP (K) Ltd.
The change of guard at KEBS comes amidst a national crackdown on contraband and illicit goods including sugar and electronics that has seen the arrest of over 70 traders and distributors and closure of warehouses.
Prior to the appointment, Ikiara worked as the Executive Director at the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis, and previously as a lecturer and research fellow at Moi University’s School of Environmental Studies.