The County Assembly of Bungoma has become the first county assembly in Kenya to attain ISO 9001:2015 certification, a milestone expected to strengthen accountability, efficiency and quality in service delivery.
The certification by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) recognises the assembly’s efforts to establish structured management systems, improve internal processes and promote continuous improvement in executing its constitutional mandate.
KEBS Director General Esther Ngari, who presented the certificate during a ceremony attended by Governor Kenneth Lusaka, Speaker Emmanuel Situma, and Assembly Clerk Charles Wafula, said the achievement demonstrated the institution’s commitment to internationally recognised quality management standards.
Ngari said the assembly had set an example for other county legislatures by becoming the first in the country to attain the certification, which provides a framework for organisations to improve their processes, monitor performance and respond to the needs of those they serve.
She said the assembly’s responsibilities, including legislation, representation, oversight, public participation, committee work and records management, required reliable systems to ensure efficiency, transparency and accountability.
“At its heart, a quality management system is about ensuring that an organisation has clear and effective processes, understands the needs of those it serves, monitors its performance, and continually improves the way it works,” she said.
Ngari cautioned the assembly against treating the certification as an achievement to be celebrated and forgotten, saying its value would be measured by the improvements it brought to the institution’s daily operations.
She challenged the leadership and staff to ensure that established procedures were followed consistently rather than making hurried preparations whenever auditors were expected.
“The real value of a quality management system is realised when the systems become part of the institution’s everyday culture and continue to deliver measurable improvements over time,” she said.
Ngari said the assembly could build on the certification by pursuing other international standards addressing specific institutional needs.
She cited ISO 27001, which provides a framework for information security management and could help protect legislative records, Hansard reports and other institutional information. She also identified ISO 45001 on occupational health and safety and ISO 14001 on environmental management as possible areas for consideration.
Ngari said the additional standards should be pursued where they address actual operational needs and strategic priorities, rather than for the sake of accumulating certificates.
Lusaka, on his part, said the certification should not merely be displayed in offices but should translate into better services and stronger institutions for the people of Bungoma.
The governor said the achievement reflected efforts to strengthen systems, improve processes and enhance the quality of services offered by the county assembly.
Lusaka challenged the assembly to ensure that its operations became more efficient, its decisions more responsive to citizens’ needs and its oversight role more effective in promoting prudent use of public resources.
“The real test of ISO 9001:2015 will not be the certificate we receive today. The real test will be whether the systems and standards we have established continue to improve the experience of the ordinary citizens,” he said.
The governor addressed questions that he said should guide the assembly’s next phase, including whether residents would find it easier to engage with the legislature, whether public participation would become more meaningful and whether citizens would receive timely, transparent and accurate information.
He said public participation should enable residents to understand and contribute meaningfully to decisions affecting them, rather than merely attending meetings without engaging with the issues under discussion.
Lusaka also challenged the assembly to ensure legislation responded to community needs and that oversight contributed to better service delivery.
He said residents expected leaders to address challenges affecting roads, healthcare, agricultural productivity, access to clean water, education and employment opportunities.
The governor called for continued cooperation between the county executive and the assembly, saying the two arms of government had distinct constitutional mandates but shared the responsibility of serving residents.
He said disagreements between the executive and legislature were normal in a democracy, provided they did not undermine accountability or the delivery of public services.
“Let quality become a habit. Let accountability become a way of life. Let transparency become standard practice, and let the citizens remain at the centre of everything that we do,” Lusaka said.
He urged the assembly to sustain the certification through continuous improvement, innovation and stronger public engagement, saying the ultimate measure of success would be the impact of its systems on residents.
The County Assembly Speaker said the achievement demonstrated that county legislative institutions could establish management systems that meet internationally recognised standards.
Situma said the County Assembly Service Board, which he chairs, had supported the development and implementation of the quality management system as part of efforts to strengthen the institution’s capacity to discharge its legislative, representation and oversight responsibilities.
He commended the assembly’s leadership, management and staff for their contribution to the certification process, saying the achievement required coordination across departments, documentation of procedures, staff training, audits and corrective action.
He said certification was not the end of the process but the beginning of a new phase in which the assembly would be expected to maintain the standards and demonstrate tangible improvements in its operations.
“The certificate belongs to all of you,” he said, recognising the collective contribution of staff and members of the assembly.
The County Speaker said the certification should lead to improved efficiency, consistency, accountability and responsiveness in the institution’s operations, ultimately benefiting Bungoma residents.
He challenged the management and staff to address any shortcomings identified during future assessments and continually strengthen the systems established under the quality management framework.
Situma said the assembly would also continue investing in performance management, accountability, public complaints handling, access to information, risk management, staff capacity and institutional planning.
He thanked KEBS for its professional guidance and assessment throughout the certification process, saying the assembly would work to sustain the standards and build on the achievement.
Assembly Clerk Charles Wafula said the journey had demanded commitment, sacrifice and attention to detail, with officers required to map processes, document procedures, train process owners, conduct internal audits and undertake management reviews before the final assessment.
He said implementation began on October 14, 2024, with the first internal audit conducted in November that year.
The assembly leadership held a management review on January 16, 2025, followed by staff sensitisation and a pre-verification audit in March. Further sensitisation and departmental audits were conducted in November 2025.
Wafula said KEBS-supported auditors conducted the first-stage assessment on January 8, 2026, before returning between April 21 and 23 for the second-stage audit.
The assembly was subsequently recommended for certification, which was awarded in June 2026 before the official handover.
Wafula said the process had strengthened the institution’s focus on evidence-based management and consistent application of procedures.
He said the assembly would seek to ensure that quality management became part of its everyday work, including how it supports legislative processes, manages public resources, engages residents and responds to public needs.
“Quality is not a one-day achievement. It is a daily practice,” he said.
Wafula urged other county assemblies and county executives to consider adopting quality management standards, saying the progress made by one devolved institution could inspire others to strengthen their systems.
By Chris Mahandara
