KENYA – Esther Ngari, the Managing Director of the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), has been acknowledged as the Public Sector Global ‘CEO of the Week’ for the week of January 9th to January 16th, 2024.
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.
Ngari‘s journey to the CEO position at KEBS has been eventful. In 2022, she was appointed to take over in a 6-month acting capacity after Njiraini’s term came to an abrupt end following a court ruling that dismissed his previous appointment as being irregular.
Come last year, she assumed the interim role after the removal of the former CEO, Bernard Njiraini, who was among 27 officials affected by management changes.
Njiraini’s departure was linked to the controversial release of condemned sugar, which resulted in a major scandal.
With a professional background in quality assurance, research, and development, Ngari has significantly impacted KEBS, becoming the second female to lead the standards assurance agency.
She follows in the footsteps of Eva Oduor who held the post back in 2012.
Ngari’s initiatives at KEBS have focused on enhancing standardization, metrology, and conformity assessment services.
Notable achievements include advocating for quality standards for SME competitiveness, and emphasizing their crucial role in global market access and competitiveness during the World Quality Day celebration in November 2023.
In the field of food safety, Ngari has played a pivotal role in ensuring industry compliance with standards.
Notably, her involvement in rejecting a consignment of government cooking oil import deemed unfit for consumption reflects her commitment to consumer welfare, according to the PublicSector Global.
Under Ngari’s leadership, KEBS launched 416 new standards for safety and innovation, with 10 specifically targeting intelligent transport systems aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 3.
Ngari’s dedication to excellence, safety, and innovation, coupled with her proven track record, positions her as a deserving and effective leader in the field of standards assurance.
The recognition as the CEO of the week underscores Ngari’s transformative leadership and commitment to KEBS’s mission.
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