Sh20.7 million worth sub-standard goods were on Tuesday destroyed by Kenya Bureau of Standards in the Athi River based Export Processing Zone Authority.
Addressing the press during the incineration exercise at the EPZA, KEBS director Charles Ongwae said the institution had intensified its fight on substandard goods in the country through market surveillance and inspection.
Ongwae said the goods destroyed included medical syringes, electrical appliances, assorted food products, electronics and electrical appliances, construction materials, mattresses, motorcycle tire inner tubes and mattresses.
“Last year in April, KEBS destroyed goods valued at Sh37 million and today we are gathered here to witness the destruction of substandard goods that our market surveillance officers have seized from the market, the goods you see here are valued at Sh20.7 million making the total value of substandard goods destroyed in the country in the last 11 months Sh57.7 million,” said Ongwae.
Ongwae said the items were seized by the standardization body from supermarkets, containers, NCBD and various godowns in Nairobi, Machakos and Mt. Kenya.
He said the destruction is a warning to traders and manufacturers engaged in businesses of substandard products.
Ongwae, however, called on members of the public to be more vigilant when purchasing goods of any products asserting they should always check on KEBS marks of quality before they make decisions to buy.
He said the organization would not relent at ensuring that consumers are protected from harmful and poor quality goods alongside protecting the environment.