Kenya to Host ARSO Headquarters After Pledging Nairobi Land

Mombasa Takes Over as Regional Summit Relocates From Uganda

Kenya stepped in at short notice to host a major African trade and standards meeting after an Ebola outbreak forced the relocation of the event from Uganda, with hundreds of delegates gathering in Mombasa to push for fewer barriers to the movement of goods across the continent. The 32nd General Assembly of the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO), being held at Sarova Whitesands in Mombasa from August 24 to 28, has brought together about 400 delegates from 58 countries, including 36 African nations.

The assembly was initially scheduled to take place in Uganda but was moved to Kenya following the Ebola outbreak. Uganda declared its 2026 Ebola outbreak over on July 28 after recording 20 confirmed cases and two deaths, according to the country’s health authorities. Kenya’s ability to take over the hosting of the continental meeting at short notice has also put the country’s conference and hospitality industry in the spotlight.

Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry Lee Kinyanjui said the relocation demonstrated the confidence placed in Kenya’s ability to host major international gatherings. On very short notice, Kenya successfully hosted the 32nd General Assembly of the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) in Mombasa, bringing together 400 delegates from 58 countries, including 36 African nations, Kinyanjui said. He added that Kenya’s ability to step in and deliver such a major international gathering demonstrates confidence in the country and the strength of a growing hospitality sector.

Permanent Nairobi Headquarters Promised for African Organisation for Standardisation

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. On Wednesday, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki announced the decision while officially opening the 32nd ARSO General Assembly in Mombasa, where 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. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki 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 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.”

Kithure Kindiki, Deputy President of Kenya

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, Kindiki said. 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.

Harmonising Standards to Overcome Low Intra-African Trade

Addressing delegates, the Deputy President described standards as the invisible infrastructure that underpins trade, arguing that roads, ports and railways alone cannot unlock Africa’s economic potential without harmonised product standards. He noted that the AfCFTA has created a market of 1.4 billion people with a combined GDP of about USD3.4 trillion, but warned that fragmented regulatory systems across 54 countries continue to hinder the free movement of goods.

Africa’s intra-continental trade remains significantly lower than its trade with markets outside the continent, highlighting the gap between the ambition of the African Continental Free Trade Area and the reality faced by businesses seeking to export within Africa. At the centre of the five-day assembly is the harmonisation of standards, intended to make it easier for products manufactured in one African country to access other markets without facing unnecessary or repeated technical requirements.

“Standards are not simply a measure of quality; they are instruments of transformation.”

Kithure Kindiki, Deputy President of Kenya

Kindiki urged ARSO to make the removal of such barriers a priority in its 2027–2032 strategic plan.

Strategic Priorities and the Road to 2032

Kindiki identified agriculture, agro-processing, pharmaceuticals and manufacturing among the sectors that could benefit from greater alignment of standards. He called for national standards agencies to strengthen arrangements for recognising certificates issued by their counterparts in other countries and to make compliance requirements more affordable for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.

Kenya Bureau of Standards Managing Director Esther Ngari said businesses should be able to rely on certification obtained in one market when seeking entry into another. Ngari stated that manufacturers should not be required to repeatedly demonstrate that their products meet technical requirements where the initial certification has already been issued by a recognised authority, adding that an accepted certificate could effectively serve as a means of opening access to other African markets.

ARSO President Botsile Kebapetse said the organisation was working to strengthen quality infrastructure, bring national standards closer together and improve systems used to assess whether products comply with agreed requirements, pointing out that differences in testing and certification rules remain a challenge. Kindiki reiterated that Kenya wants to position itself as a leader in building institutions that support industrialisation, competitiveness and innovation across the continent.