The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) was established by
an Act of Parliament - the Standards Act, Chapter 496 of the Laws of Kenya. It
started its operations in July 1974.
The aims and objectives of the Bureau include the preparation of standards relating
to products, measurements, materials, processes, etc., and their promotion at
national, regional, and international levels; certification of industrial
products; assistance in the production of quality goods; improvement of
measurement accuracy and circulation of information relating to standards.
KEBS' organizational structure comprises the following:
- Standards Development and International Trade Division
- Quality Assurance Division
- Testing and Metrology Services Division, and
- Finance and Administration Division.
The National Standards Council is the policy-making body which has power to
supervise and control the administration and financial management of the
Bureau. The Managing Director of the Bureau is the Chief Executive, whose
responsibilities are the day-to-day running and administration of the Bureau
within the broad guidelines formulated by the Council.
Steps to KEBS Certification
{tocify} $title={Table of Contents}
Step 1: Preliminary Investigation
When a client expresses interest in certification services,
the KEBS CB determines whether the client is sufficiently prepared for the
audit process.
The client is requested to submit online application
here: https://ims.kebs.org.
The client may also be issued with the sample contract upon
request.
Step 2: Application
If the client is found to be ready, a cost quotation is
done, based on the information given in the APPLICATION FORM and send to the client and if this is
acceptable to the client, the client pays the application fees and the HOD-CB
sends the client a commitment letter to undertake the certification services.
Note: Payment of application fees is an
indication that the client has accepted the cost quotation and has read and
understood the conditions of contract.
Step 3: Stage One Audit
Certification audits are done in two stages; i.e. stage one
and two.
This stage one audit is done to:
- Review
the client’s management system documented information against the
normative document requirements.
- Evaluate
the client’s site-specific conditions and to undertake discussions with
the client’s personnel to determine the preparedness for stage 2
- Review
the client’s status and understanding regarding requirements of the
standard, in particular with respect to the identification of key
performance or significant aspects, processes, objectives, and operation of
the management system;
- Review
the allocation of resources for stage 2 and agree the details of stage 2
with the client
- Evaluate
if the client’s internal audit and management reviews are being planned
and performed and if they are effective
- Provide
focus for the stage 2 audit and agree with the client on the details for
the stage two audit
- To
confirm information given in the APPLICATION FORM and collect information
regarding the scope of the audit
For the initial certification audit, part of the stage one
audit may be conducted at the client’s premises and a documented conclusion on
the fulfilment of stage 1 objectives and readiness for stage two including
identification of any areas of concern that could be classified as
nonconformities during stage 2 will be send to the client.
The time period between the stage one and the stage two
audit is dependent on the gaps identified during the stage one audit and is
mutually agreed between the KEBS CB and the client. In any case this time
period shall not be more than six months. If the six months lapse before the
stage 2 audit is done, another stage 1 audit must be performed. If a client´s
management system is found, after the stage 1 audit, not to be ready for stage
two, another stage 1 audit shall be performed at the appropriate time at the
cost of the client.
Step 4: Stage Two Audit
The stage two audit is done on site and its main objective
is to evaluate the implementation well as the effectiveness of the client’s
management system.
The audit includes an examination of at least the following:
- information
and evidence about conformity to all requirements of the applicable
management system standard or other normative document
- performance
monitoring, measuring, reporting and reviewing against key performance
objectives and targets (consistent with the expectations in the applicable
management system standard or other normative document)
- the
client’s management system and performance as regards legal compliance
- operational
control of the client’s processes
- internal
auditing and management review processes
- management
responsibility for the client’s policies
- Links
between the normative requirements, policy, performance objectives and
targets (consistent with the expectations in the applicable management
system
Steps to Certification (KEBS CB) Rev 1 30 November 2015 Page
3/3
standard or other normative document), any applicable legal requirements,
responsibilities, competence of personnel, operations, procedures, performance
data and internal audit findings and conclusions.
During this audit if non-conformities are found they shall
be recorde are classified as either major or minor.
Corrective action plans must be submitted for all
nonconformities. The time for submitting of Corrective Action Plan (CAP) by the
auditee/client is a maximum of 2 weeks and the auditor/CB must indicate
acceptance of the plan before the client undertakes the actions therein.
For minor nonconformities the recommendation for
certification can be made based on an acceptable Corrective Action Plan and the
effectiveness of the corrective action shall then be evaluated at the next
audit. The time for carrying out of the corrective action shall therefore be
determined by the auditee/client and submitted as part of the corrective action
plan.
When major nonconformities are raised, the process of
certification decision making shall not begin until the corrective actions have
been undertaken by the client and effectiveness thereof been evaluated and
found to be effective within a maximum of sixty days.
Step 5: Certification Decision
After the follow-up audit, during which time the corrective
action plan from the stage two audit are confirmed to have been carried out,
the audit findings and conclusions are evaluated by a peer audit and the
certification officer who then makes recommendations to the certification
committee. The committee makes the certification decision. Once certified, the
certificate is valid for 3 years.
Step 6: Surveillance
For the contract period, surveillance audits are carried out at
least once a calendar year except in recertification years.
Step 7: Recertification
Re-certification audit shall be conducted at least two months
before the expiry of the certification contract.
Click on the links below for additional information on the
Certifications Body.