Kenyan Muslims are being encouraged to go beyond simply trusting halal logos and to actively verify the ingredients, sourcing, and certification of products they consume. This call was made during the recent East Africa Halal Expo and Forum, where stakeholders discussed strategies to strengthen Kenya’s role in the global halal economy.
Understanding Halal Beyond the Label
İhsan Övüt, Secretary General of the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC), emphasized that halal compliance involves more than just slaughter methods. It includes scrutinizing ingredients, processing, packaging, and certification authenticity. Övüt urged consumers to read ingredient lists and confirm that certifications come from credible authorities to ensure true halal compliance.
“We have to have halal foods, otherwise we are not halal! And are we real Muslims if we eat everything?” he challenged, highlighting the importance of informed consumption.
Certification Challenges in Kenyan Markets
Halal certification expert Mgeni Hamisi noted that many businesses in Muslim-majority areas like Eastleigh and Mombasa still operate without formal halal certification. This situation can mislead consumers who assume that Muslim-owned businesses automatically sell halal-certified products. Hamisi stressed the need for consumers to verify halal claims, as modern certification systems can trace products through batch numbers and other mechanisms.
Economic Potential and Policy Recommendations
Kenya’s export sectors, including meat, dairy, and leather, show significant potential if they meet international halal standards. Jane Madimadu from the Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency highlighted growing meat exports valued at around Sh22 billion and opportunities to expand dairy and leather exports through halal certification.
Solan Cartelo, Director for the Middle East at the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, pointed to Kenya’s strategic location for supplying halal products to Middle Eastern markets. He recommended establishing a national halal authority and enhancing the Kenya Bureau of Standards’ role to ensure robust halal compliance.
Financing and Future Outlook
Financial institutions like KCB Bank Sahl expressed readiness to support businesses aligned with Sharia-compliant principles, facilitating access to regional and international halal markets.
While expanding exports is a key goal, experts agreed that strengthening halal compliance domestically through improved consumer awareness, certification, and quality assurance is crucial. These efforts will position Kenya to capture a larger share of the rapidly growing global halal economy, currently valued at over $7 trillion.
