Kenya will host the permanent headquarters of the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) after the government pledged to provide land in Nairobi for the construction of a purpose-built continental headquarters.
The move is expected to strengthen Kenya’s position as Africa’s standards and quality infrastructure hub, according to the government.
On Wednesday, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki announced the decision while officially opening the 32nd ARSO General Assembly in Mombasa.
Delegates from more than 40 African countries gathered to discuss harmonising standards to accelerate trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Kindiki said Kenya’s commitment goes beyond hosting meetings, describing the decision to allocate land as an investment in Africa’s institutional future and economic integration.
“The government intends to scale up this partnership by making available adequate and appropriate land for the construction of a permanent, fit-for-purpose ARSO headquarters,” Kindiki said.
“We are offering ARSO a permanent home from which its vision can flourish, its operations can expand, and its influence can radiate across Africa and the globe.”
He revealed that discussions with Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui had already identified a possible location in Nairobi, with the process of formally handing over the property set to begin immediately after the General Assembly.
The announcement comes as Kenya also prepares to host the 2028 International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Annual Meeting in Nairobi, a development Kindiki said demonstrates Africa’s growing influence in shaping global quality and standards infrastructure.
He said Kenya wants to position itself as a leader in building institutions that support industrialisation, competitiveness and innovation across the continent.
“Standards are not simply a measure of quality; they are instruments of transformation,” Kindiki said.
Addressing delegates, the Deputy President described standards as the “invisible infrastructure” that underpins trade. He argued that roads, ports and railways alone cannot unlock Africa’s economic potential without harmonised product standards.
He said the AfCFTA has created a market of 1.4 billion people with a combined GDP of about USD3.4 trillion. However, he warned that fragmented regulatory systems across 54 countries continue to hinder the free movement of goods.
Kindiki criticised the repeated testing and certification of products as they move from one African country to another. He said the duplication increases costs, delays trade and disproportionately affects micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
He urged African countries to embrace ARSO’s vision of “One Standard, One Test, One Certificate, Accepted Everywhere”, saying a product certified in one African country should be recognised across the continent without undergoing additional inspections.
Kindiki pointed to the East African Community as proof that harmonised standards and mutual recognition agreements can reduce trade barriers and build trust between neighbouring countries.
Kinyanjui said hosting the General Assembly in Mombasa was symbolic because the city has historically served as East Africa’s gateway to regional and international trade.
Kinyanjui noted that intra-African trade remains at about 17 per cent, significantly lower than in other regions. He said harmonised standards are critical to increasing trade among African countries.
He said many African products still leave the continent for processing or certification before returning to African markets, a practice he described as costly and unnecessary.
The Cabinet Secretary also called for greater support for MSMEs, saying affordable certification would enable small businesses to expand beyond national borders and compete across Africa.
