The Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS) was established in 2009 to carry out accreditation of conformity of assessment services which include calibration, product testing, medical testing (pathology), and proficiency testing laboratories, inspection, verification and certification bodies in all the economic sectors. It is a State Corporation re-established by the Kenya Accreditation Service Act 2019 (Act. No 17 of 2019) as the sole national accreditation body for Kenya.
KENAS is responsible to the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Enterprise Development with a broad objective to strengthen the conformance to standards technical infrastructure and to build confidence in Kenyan products and services locally and globally. KENAS contributes Kenya’s development agenda by promoting the use of accreditation, and the acceptance of equivalence of accredited bodies worldwide as means for facilitating trade, enhancing economic outcomes, managing and mitigating risks to quality, health, safety, environment and consumer protection.
KENAS is also the designated member and representative for Kenya to regional and international accreditation. Since 2017, KENAS is a full signatory to the Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs) with the African Accreditation Cooperation (AFRAC), the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). The objective of the MRAs is to ensure that Kenyan products and services gain access in countries that are MRA signatories who recognize certificates and reports issued by a KENAS accredited conformity assessment body as equivalent to those issued by their own accredited body, thereby eases access and reduces barriers to trade.
The accreditation work carried out by KENAS is undertaken by following international standards and guidelines set by ISO (International Organization for Standardization), IAF (International Accreditation Forum) and ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation). KENAS works closely with government agencies but also keenly safeguards its independence and impartiality.