African electrical standards experts convened in Mombasa to advocate for stronger harmonisation of electrotechnical standards and enhanced enforcement of product certification across the continent. The gathering, held as part of the 10th General Assembly of the African Electrotechnical Standardisation Commission (AFSEC), brought together delegates from member states to evaluate progress since AFSEC’s inception in 2008 and set future priorities.
Acting AFSEC President Jacob Akoussi, who also serves as Technical Adviser at Côte d'Ivoire's Ministry of Energy, emphasized the importance of unified standards for improving cross-border electricity interconnections and facilitating trade.
He highlighted the critical role of conformity assessment in ensuring that electrical and electronic products meet recognised safety and quality benchmarks. Akoussi expressed concern about limited public awareness regarding standards and urged consumers to verify product certification before purchase. He also called on governments to strengthen regulatory frameworks and customs authorities to enforce harmonised standards to prevent substandard goods from entering local markets.
Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) Manager for IEC and Electrotechnical Standards Development, Zacheus Mwatha, noted that AFSEC functions as the continental body coordinating the harmonisation of standards and conformity assessment systems for electrical products. He explained that each member country, including Kenya through KEBS, has a national committee to implement these standards in collaboration with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
The assembly serves as a platform to review AFSEC’s achievements over 18 years and to adopt a roadmap guiding future work on electrical standardisation and product conformity assessment. Delegates from across eastern, western, northern, and southern Africa are expected to elect new leadership and approve technical programmes aimed at strengthening quality infrastructure and supporting trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
By harmonising standards and conformity assessment across African markets, the experts believe the continent can better protect consumers, reduce the circulation of unsafe electrical products, and enhance regional trade integration.
