KEBS Seizes 265 Rolls of Substandard Barbed Wire and Chain-Link in Murang’a

The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has confiscated 265 rolls of inferior fencing materials from a company in Kabati, Murang'a County, due to ongoing breaches of national quality standards. The seized items consist of 34 rolls of barbed wire and 231 rolls of chain-link, which did not conform to the specifications outlined in Kenya Standard KS EAS 135:2021.

A statement released on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, by KEBS disclosed that the operation was carried out by its Market Surveillance Engineering Team. The bureau explained that the firm had persisted in using wire with a diameter below the stipulated standard despite receiving multiple seizure notices in earlier enforcement actions.

According to KEBS, the chain-link products failed to meet the required wire diameter and mesh size specifications, whereas the barbed wire did not satisfy the prescribed packed roll weight requirements. The bureau expressed concern over the firm's repeated disregard for previous enforcement notices, highlighting the potential risks these non-compliant products pose to consumer safety and the integrity of the fencing market.

Non-compliant fencing products not only undermine the quality and value for money but also make the structures more vulnerable to accelerated rusting, thereby diminishing their strength, durability, and safety. Under KS EAS 135:2021, chain-link wire must possess a diameter of 2mm (14 Gauge), and packed barbed wire rolls must weigh 20kg for 480 meters and 25kg for 610 meters.

KEBS emphasized that manufacturers and suppliers must abide by the prescribed standards to guarantee that fencing products meet the required quality and safety benchmarks. The bureau reiterated that adherence to Kenya Standards is obligatory and cautioned manufacturers and suppliers against ignoring enforcement notices. The statement concluded with a commitment from KEBS to intensify market surveillance and administer appropriate enforcement actions against manufacturers and suppliers dealing in non-compliant fencing materials.