The Department of Chemistry at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) has taken a major step towards enhancing the quality, credibility and international recognition of its laboratory services by hosting an intensive ISO/IEC 17025 Accreditation Training.
The week-long training, which began on Monday, July 13, 2026, will be facilitated by experts from the Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS). The aim is to equip participants with the knowledge and practical skills required to become competent laboratory auditors while promoting international best practices in laboratory quality management.
The training is anchored on the internationally recognized ISO/IEC 17025 standard, which sets out the general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. Participants drawn from JKUAT and BioTrace Laboratories will be guided through key aspects of laboratory accreditation, including audit planning, risk-based thinking, quality assurance, documentation, corrective actions and continuous improvement, equipping them with the skills needed to strengthen laboratory quality systems.
Speaking during the opening session of the training, the Acting Principal College of Pure and Applied Sciences (COPAS) where the department is domiciled, Prof. Peter Njenga lauded the initiative, noting that laboratory accreditation is becoming increasingly essential in higher education institutions seeking to strengthen research excellence, innovation, and industry partnerships.
He also observed that accredited laboratories inspire confidence in research findings, improve the reliability of testing services, and enhance collaboration with government agencies, industries, and international research institutions. Prof. Njenga further noted that investing in staff capacity building demonstrates the university’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of scientific integrity and professional competence.
“This initiative is timely and aligns perfectly with JKUAT’s vision of becoming a university of global excellence in training, research, innovation and entrepreneurship for development, as well as our mission of advancing knowledge and technology through quality education, research, innovation, and community engagement,” said Prof. Njenga. “Accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 will not only strengthen the credibility and international recognition of our laboratory results but will also enhance our research capabilities, support regulatory compliance, promote food safety, and expand opportunities for collaboration with industry, government agencies, and international partners. The facilities will also be available to JKUAT postgraduate research students,” he added.
On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS), Dr. Walter Ongeti, emphasized that the pursuit of quality is no longer optional in today’s scientific and research environment but an essential requirement. He noted that laboratories play a critical role in education, research, innovation, public health, environmental protection, manufacturing and trade, with public confidence in laboratory results hinging on the competence of personnel, the effectiveness of laboratory systems and adherence to internationally recognized standards.
“ISO/IEC 17025 is the global benchmark for testing and calibration laboratories. It provides a framework that ensures laboratories consistently produce valid, reliable and technically sound results. Accreditation against this standard is not merely about obtaining a certificate; it is about cultivating a culture of excellence, accountability, impartiality and continual improvement,” said Dr. Ongeti.
Describing the training as a strategic investment in human capital, he noted that equipping staff from the Department of Chemistry with internal auditing skills would strengthen the department’s capacity to evaluate laboratory systems objectively, identify opportunities for improvement and sustain compliance with international standards.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director of BioTrace Labs Ltd, Dr. Ryan Karongo, observed that while partnerships between universities and industry are well established in Kenya, a private analytical laboratory collaborating with a university’s department of Chemistry to translate academic science into accredited practice is, to their knowledge, the first initiative of its kind.
Dr. Karongo explained that under the research agreement, the Department of Chemistry is more than an academic collaborator. Through the partnership, the department’s expertise, methodologies and talented young scientists will contribute directly to industry, fostering innovation while strengthening Kenya’s analytical and research capacity.
“Through the department’s academic leadership, we will develop and validate methods for pesticide residue and mycotoxin analysis to international standards. Our shared goal is clear: ISO/IEC 17025-accredited testing capacity that gives Kenyan agricultural producers direct access to export markets and gives Kenyan students hands-on experience with world-class instrumentation,” he said.
He noted that the collaboration leverages the complementary strengths of both institutions. “The University brings academic expertise, scientific leadership, instrumentation and talent. We bring analytical methodology, international standards and a route to market. Neither of us achieves this alone,” he added.
The Chair of the Department of Chemistry, Dr. Elijah Ngumba, expressed appreciation to BioTrace Laboratories Ltd for its confidence in JKUAT and its investment in the strategic partnership. He also commended KENAS for supporting the department’s journey towards international accreditation.
“Together, you are helping position JKUAT as a leading centre of excellence in advanced chemical analysis, particularly in food safety, pesticide residue monitoring, mycotoxin analysis and related applications. Such partnerships are essential for strengthening national laboratory capacity and contributing to Kenya’s socio-economic development,” said Dr. Ngumba.
