Fresh Crackdown Looms as Bamburi and KEBS Target Substandard Building Materials

Bamburi Cement PLC Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Ndugwa at the KEBS Head Office, where he held discussions with KEBS Managing Director Esther Ngari, on strengthening cooperation between the two institutions on matters construction materials. PHOTO/ File

A new initiative to protect the construction industry in Kenya has emerged after Bamburi Cement PLC and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) strengthened ties to improve market quality, protect consumer interests, and curb the circulation of poor-quality construction materials.

This follows a courtesy call to KEBS Head Office made by Bamburi Cement PLC CEO Geoffrey Ndugwa, who had discussions with KEBS Managing Director Esther Ngari on how to strengthen the partnership between the two agencies.

The meeting involved efforts to enhance the existing strong partnership between the cement company and standards bureau while looking into methods to ensure construction materials coming into the market are of certain quality benchmarks.

Bamburi, KEBS Push for Stronger Market Surveillance

In the course of the interaction, the firm pointed out the significance of collaboration in the face of challenges associated with poor construction materials.

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The Chief Executive Officer of Bamburi Cement PLC, Geoffrey Ndugwa, noted that the company is always committed to conforming to national quality standards.

“Maintaining strict conformity to national quality standards is not just a regulatory obligation for Bamburi Cement; it is the cornerstone of our corporate DNA. We deeply appreciate KEBS’ unrelenting commitment to market surveillance, robust auditing, and manufacturing facility assessments. Positive collaborations like this ensure that the Kenyan public is protected against structural hazards while securing the longevity of our country’s critical infrastructure projects,” Ndugwa said.

KEBS Managing Director Esther Ngari welcomed the engagement, noting that close cooperation with manufacturers remains essential in strengthening regulation and improving industry competitiveness.

“Continuous, direct engagement with our primary industry players is key to helping local enterprises meet regulatory criteria seamlessly while scaling up industrial competitiveness. KEBS remains fully dedicated to providing the necessary quality infrastructure, technical expertise, and standards frameworks that foster industrial growth, environmental sustainability, and consumer protection across the board,” Ngari said.

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Consumer Safety and Sustainability Becomes a Point of Interest

The partnership is expected to lead to an increase in consumer, contractor, and other stakeholder awareness regarding the need to use certified and quality-assured construction materials.

The Bamburi Cement company, which is part of the Amsons Group, has been operating in the East Africa region for many years and is one of the top cement producers in Kenya.

The company manufactures cement and construction materials from its subsidiaries.

KEBS, as the national body responsible for standards, continues to ensure quality control, product testing, certification, and market surveillance of the products that end up in the hands of the consumer.

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