KEBS Launches KQA Scheme to Promote Quality Culture Among MSMEs

By Wilkister Alao

The Kenya Bureau of standards (KEBS) has initiated Kenya Quality Award (KQA), a scheme aimed at promoting and entrenching a quality culture amongst Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Kenya.

KQA, which is designed to recognize MSMEs striving to produce quality products that already have a valid Standardization Mark of Quality (SMark), will additionally assist MSMEs to initiate, develop, and implement quality management systems to a status of certification.

Lt. Col. (Rtd) Bernard Njiraini, Ag Managing Director Kenya Bureau of Standards, said during the KQA ceremony that they recognized both the opportunity and their profound responsibility to build capacities for MSMEs to develop formal quality models that will help them mature to effective, sustainable quality management systems.

“We expect more MSMEs to participate in the Kenya Quality Award because the resulting benefits will keep them in good standing as we look to export Kenyan products to the larger Africa Continental Free Trade Area,” he added.

READ ALSO: Co-operative Bank Organizes Business Exposure Trip to China for its MSME Customers 

MSMEs that were recognized for being pioneer KQA participants include Lake Victoria Mineral Water Ltd., Kabianga Tea Factory Limited, Lovely Home Products, Rahma Ice, Krystalline Salt Ltd., SureWays Enterprises, Countryside Dairy Ltd., Mutole Enterprises, Amani Jipange, Mega Hygiene Systems Ltd., Hiana Products Enterprise, and Akimaa Africa Limited.

The participants were rigorously evaluated by independent judges using the Kenya Quality Award Criteria for Excellence which measures an organization in five key areas comprising Process Management; Resources Management; Leadership; Customer and Market Focus; and Society and Environmental Standards.

In attendance at the KQA ceremony was Hon. Peter Munya, MGH, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Cooperatives, who reiterated the government’s commitment in relation to the quality of the MSMEs’ products and the effectiveness of their processes to ensure they can access the wider market.

“I laud the commitment of the Kenya Bureau of Standards towards entrenching a quality culture in Kenya. With a consolidated and multi-sectorial approach, the government is committed to support this key sector as it recognizes the role it plays in contributing to the economy and creating employment,” he said.

The MSMEs contribute the largest share of the country’s GDP as they contribute 28.5 percent of Kenya’s economy. According to KNBS data, there are about 1.56 million licensed MSMEs and 5.85 million unlicensed businesses in Kenya.

92.2 percent of these establishments are Micro, while Small and Medium Enterprises account for 7.1 percent and 0.79 percent respectively.

The launch of the Kenya Quality Award comes after the Ministry for Industry, Trade and Cooperatives launched the Industrialization Roadmap during the second Intra-Commonwealth SME Trade summit that was held in May 2019 in Nairobi.

READ ALSO: MSMEs to Fuel Growth in 2019 if Financial Constraints are Eased, CBK