Kenya's quality assurance body has cracked its whip on a total of 369 water bottling companies.
Issuing a public statement in Nairobi on Wednesday, KEBS managing director, Charles Ongwae urged the blacklisted firms to immediately withdraw and cease supplying bottled water to shops and restaurants with immediate effect.
In a session that was attended by over 400 representatives of water bottling companies across the country, Ongwae lamented that the suspended firms provided contaminated water to the unsuspecting public, a factor that he maintained could put lives of Kenyans at a great risk.
Prior to the suspension, KEBS had issued a green light to 600 companies to offer bottled water to the Kenyan markets. As advise to the spared companies, Ongwae spelt out that those with suitably qualified personnel were to fire and hire new staff that are well versed with water testing and quality checks as well as relocating to more clean environments.
In a further reference to the suspended firms, Ongwae expressed his frustrations that companies are in the habit of borrowing stickers from licensed firms so as to avail their substandard goods into the markets.