KEBS MD Esther Ngari Rallies CEOs to Champion Business Excellence
By Shadrack Mutai
The Managing Director of the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), Esther Ngari, has called on Kenyan chief executives to take direct leadership in strengthening management systems within their organisations.
Speaking during a CEO’s Breakfast Meeting held at the Weston Hotel on February 17, Ngari emphasized that business excellence begins and ends with top leadership.
Under the theme “Driving Business Excellence Through Management Systems: The CEO Imperative,” the KEBS boss described the gathering as more than a routine meeting, terming it a strategic convergence of leaders shaping Kenya’s economic future.
Leadership is the Deciding Factor
Ngari noted that while many organisations pursue certification and compliance, true excellence is sustained only when CEOs personally champion the systems behind them.
“No management system survives leadership indifference,” she stated. “Culture is not created by consultants. It is shaped by the CEO.”
She challenged executives to move beyond viewing standards as paperwork or framed certificates, urging them instead to embed excellence into boardroom decisions, operational reviews, and corporate culture.
According to Ngari, organisations that thrive globally are those that deliberately design resilience into their structures ensuring quality, sustainability, data protection, staff safety, and continuity are not treated as isolated functions but as part of one integrated framework.
Preparing Kenya for Global Markets
Ngari also highlighted the opportunities emerging from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), saying Kenyan businesses must be ready to meet growing global expectations.
“The world is watching, and in many cases, choosing Kenya,” she said, adding that market access alone is not enough without consistent quality and credibility.
She reminded CEOs that every product or service delivered to high standards contributes to strengthening the country’s reputation internationally.
“Every time your organisation delivers excellence, you are not just building your brand you are building Brand Kenya,” she said.
A Call to Action
In closing, the KEBS MD urged industry leaders to recommit to leading from the front and making excellence a daily practice rather than a compliance obligation.
As Kenya positions itself as a continental hub for trade and innovation, KEBS reaffirmed its role as a strategic partner in aligning local businesses with global best practices.
