The Managing Director of the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has emerged as the Public Sector Global ‘CEO of the week’. She is our CEO from the week of January 9th to January 16th, 2024.
Esther Ngari assumed her substantive role on October 13th, 2023, following her appointment by Trade Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano.
Ngari’s journey to this leadership position has been marked by resilience and capability.
She initially took on the role in an acting capacity in May, filling the void left by the abrupt departure of the former CEO, Bernard Njiraini, amidst significant management changes.
Ngari’s competence and dedication were evident as she navigated the challenges of the acting role, ultimately earning her a substantive position after a thorough selection process.
Prior to her appointment, Ngari served as the Director of Standards Development and Trade at KEBS. Her professional background is rooted in quality assurance, research, and development, notably at the Kenya Meat Commission.
With a wealth of experience, Ngari has demonstrated her commitment to upholding standards in various sectors. Notably, she has become the second female to lead the standards assurance agency, continuing the legacy initiated by Eva Oduor in 2012.
Ngari’s impact on KEBS has been substantial, as reflected in her initiatives to enhance standardization, metrology, and conformity assessment services.
One of her notable achievements includes championing quality standards for SME competitiveness during the World Quality Day celebration in November 2023. Ngari emphasized the importance of embracing quality standards for global market access and enhanced competitiveness, highlighting the essential role these standards play in consumer trust and overall business success.
In the space of food safety, Ngari has been a driving force behind ensuring the rules work in the industry. She has been tough in safeguarding consumer welfare. One of the popular undertakings includes the case of Kenya Kwanza Government Cooking Oil Import being described as unfit for consumption. The consignments were rejected. The importer was also advised to reship them back to the country of origin within 30 days from the date of the letter, failure to which they shall be destroyed at the importer’s cost.
This decision follows an uppromt establishes that for fat content the Edible Oils exceeded the required amount by 0.47% by mass containing 99.97 instead of the required 99.5. For moisture and matter volatile at 105°C, while the required standard is 0.2, the oils subjected to the test contained 0.03.
The acid value of the edible oils measured, potassium hydroxide in milligrams was 0.12 whilst the required standard is 0.6. For the amount of peroxide oxygen per kilogram of oil, while the requirement is 10, the Edible Oils contained 5.42.
The KEBS examination also found that the imported oil contained 0.04 of insoluble impurities while the required standard was 0.05.
She has been consistently active in an acting or substantive capacity, Ngari has consistently worked towards safety, quality, and sustainability in the food industry. Her remarkable dedication is also marked by the launch of 416 new standards for safety and innovation three days after she was appointed to a substantive role.
Out of 416, 10 are geared towards intelligent transport systems, which aligns with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, whose goal is to mitigate road traffic accidents.
Esther Ngari’s leadership at KEBS reflects a commitment to excellence, safety, and innovation. Her proven track record, from acting roles to substantive leadership, demonstrates her capability to steer the organization towards success. Ngari’s impact on quality standards and her dedication to the agency’s mission positions her as a deserving and effective leader in the field of standards assurance.
The highly rated CEO of the week is a weekly accreditation of top-performing CEOs whose policies and leadership have brought transformation to society. This publication is targeted at showcasing the achievements of CEOs across the world.
