The Kenya Bureau of Standards is asking for more time to complete a fresh review of a Chinese company previously dropped from a lucrative imports inspection tender.
Kebs says the 21 days originally set by the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board are too short to carry out a thorough due diligence process.
The request follows a ruling late last year that directed Kebs to re-examine World Standardisation Certification Testing Group (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd after its disqualification from the tender was found to be unfair.
The board had instructed the agency to reconvene its evaluation committee and finish the exercise within three weeks.
In an application filed on January 8, 2026, Kebs asked for a further 21-day extension. “It is imperative that the honourable review board extends the time for conducting a fresh due diligence exercise by a further 21 days to allow full and effective compliance with its orders,” the agency said.
Kebs had challenged the board’s decision at the High Court, but the case was dismissed on December 19, with the court upholding the board’s directive. The agency said it has since reconstituted its evaluation team but warned that completing the assessment within the current timeline may be difficult.
The review board had criticized Kebs for disqualifying the Chinese firm without giving it a chance to respond, calling the move inconsistent with fair procurement principles.
World Standardisation Certification Testing Group previously held the Pre-export Verification of Conformity contract awarded on May 9, 2022, responsible for inspecting motor vehicles, spare parts, and other goods destined for Kenya to ensure they meet national standards.
The company, however, was excluded from the 2025–2028 tender. In a September 23, 2025 letter, Kebs cited repeated breaches of the contract and flagged safety concerns.
Although the firm met minimum prequalification standards, the agency said problems emerged during the due diligence process, prompting its disqualification.
