Government Chemist Receives ISO/IEC 17025 Laboratory Accreditation Certificate

The Government Chemist, a key department under the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, has officially been granted the ISO/IEC 17025 Testing Laboratory Accreditation Certificate by the Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS).

This accreditation, achieved after nearly three years of rigorous assessment and awarded in June 2026, marks a critical advancement in the quality and credibility of laboratory services supporting criminal investigations, court cases, public health, and regulatory enforcement.

Significance of the Accreditation

• Quality Assurance: The certification confirms that the department's laboratory operations comply with internationally recognized standards for quality, impartiality, and technical proficiency.
• Wide-ranging Impact: The Government Chemist's scientific work underpins justice administration, environmental protection, national security, consumer safety, and regulatory compliance.
• National Role: It serves as Kenya's National Authority for the Chemical Weapons Convention and coordinates within the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) framework.

Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo described the department as a "unique" institution central to forensic science and analytical testing in Kenya. He emphasized the critical role of reliable laboratory results in public health matters, including cases of poisoning, narcotics, and safety assessments of food, medicines, and industrial chemicals.

PS Omollo urged government agencies to leverage the Government Chemist as a shared national scientific resource rather than creating duplicate analytical facilities. He highlighted that collaboration would optimize expertise, technology, data sharing, infrastructure, and provide better value for taxpayers.