Kebs nabs substandard steel bars in Meru hardware shops

By JAMES KARIUKI
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The Ribbed steel bars. Kebs has netted substandard steel bars in Meru, raising fears that they could have been used in constructing unsafe storey buildings. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

Summary

• The Kebs boss said the memory of collapsing buildings attributed to use of substandard building materials was still fresh.
• He said all local manufacturers of building and construction materials are subjected to quality assurance processes before they are awarded standardisation marks.
• Mr Ongwae said Kebs had a duty to safeguard lives and investments as well as facilitating and promoting fair trade practices.
• Kebs will conduct sensitisation forums for steel bar dealers to educate them on standards and conformity assessment.

Surveillance teams have extended their search to other hardware shops around the country.
Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) has netted substandard steel bars in Meru, raising fears that they could have been used in constructing unsafe storey buildings.

Kebs Managing Director Charles Ongwae said surveillance teams had extended their search to other hardware shops around the country saying they will not rest until all substandard steel bars are removed from the market.

"Some steel bars manufacturers and distributors are inciting genuine businesses to close down their businesses to foment a crisis in the building sector to force Kebs to abandon the market surveillance exercise. But we shall not relent,” he warned.

Mr Ongwae said Kebs had a duty to safeguard lives and investments as well as facilitating and promoting fair trade practices.

Kebs, he added, had no intention to disrupt genuine businesses but had directed its efforts in protecting consumers from substandard products that might be injurious to their safety, health and the environment.

WARNED TRADERS

Mr Ongwae warned traders against dealing in fake products since they risked incurring losses when such items are confiscated and [the traders] arraigned before court to answer to criminal charges.

The Kebs boss said the memory of collapsing buildings attributed to use of substandard building materials was still fresh and called for citizen participation in rooting out fake products.

Kebs, he said, will conduct sensitisation forums for steel bar dealers to educate them on standards and conformity assessment.

"Kebs steel bar standards which were developed in partnership with stakeholders have been put in place to ensure the safety of Kenyans and also to facilitate export to other countries," he said.

Mr Ongwae added that all local manufacturers of building and construction materials are subjected to quality assurance processes before they are awarded standardisation marks (diamond mark of quality) to ensure compliance to the relevant specifications.

"Manufacturers must adhere to the laid down procedures or risk revocation of their licenses,” he said.