NAIROBI, Kenya- The Government Chemist Department has received an ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation certificate, a move expected to strengthen confidence in scientific evidence used in criminal investigations, court cases and public health decisions.
The certificate was formally presented to the department on Wednesday by the Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS), following an assessment process that lasted nearly three years.
The department attained the accreditation in June 2026. It confirms that laboratory services covered by the accreditation meet internationally recognised requirements for technical competence, quality and impartiality.
Speaking during the presentation ceremony, Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Raymond Omollo said the accreditation would strengthen the credibility of forensic evidence presented in court.
Government Chemist experts are often required to defend laboratory reports during court proceedings, where their qualifications and the status of the laboratories involved may come under scrutiny.
Omollo said the accreditation would give scientists a stronger basis for demonstrating that their work meets recognised international standards.
He described the Government Chemist Department as a key national institution whose services extend beyond the National Police Service to government agencies, private organisations and members of the public.
The department provides forensic science and analytical laboratory services supporting criminal justice, public health, environmental protection, national security, consumer protection and regulatory enforcement.
It also serves as Kenya’s National Authority for implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention and as a focal point in the country’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear coordination framework.
Omollo said forensic science plays an important role in investigations conducted by the National Police Service, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
He said reliable laboratory analysis could influence whether investigations progress, whether evidence is accepted and whether justice is ultimately served.
The accreditation is also expected to increase confidence among the Judiciary, the Office of the Attorney-General and oversight institutions in scientific testimony and evidence used in legal proceedings.
The Government Chemist’s services are also important in public health cases involving suspected poisoning, narcotic substances and the safety or composition of food, medicines, agricultural inputs and industrial chemicals.
Omollo, however, cautioned that the accreditation was not a one-off achievement.
The certificate is valid for four years, but the department is required to continuously maintain the standards on which the accreditation was granted. Failure to meet the requirements could lead to the accreditation being withdrawn.
The PS urged government institutions to use the Government Chemist as a shared national scientific resource instead of establishing separate and potentially duplicative analytical facilities.
He said closer collaboration would allow institutions to share expertise, technology, data and infrastructure while improving the use of public resources.
Omollo also challenged the department to expand its role from testing samples and issuing reports to becoming a national centre for scientific expertise and research.
He called for continued investment in staff development to enable the department to respond to emerging scientific threats and take on responsibilities beyond traditional laboratory work.
Principal Secretary for the State Department for Industry Juma Mukhwana said the accreditation demonstrated that the Government Chemist had the systems, equipment, chemicals and qualified personnel required to produce reliable results.
Mukhwana said skilled personnel remained critical even where laboratories had modern equipment and high-quality chemicals, describing the accreditation as a major milestone for Kenya’s national quality infrastructure.
The ceremony was attended by KENAS chief executive officer Walter Ongeti, Government Chemist William Munyoki and heads of departments.
The accreditation is expected to enhance the Government Chemist Department’s ability to provide credible, timely and scientifically defensible laboratory services in support of justice, public health, national security and regulatory enforcement.
