The Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) has raised alarm over an increase in the sale of substandard motor vehicle chevrons and portable warning triangles in the country.
Kebs noted that some of these products either imported or manufactured locally do not meet the required specifications.
“It has come to our attention that some brands being sold in the market do not meet the requirements of their respective Kenya standards KS 924: 2102 and KS 815: 2018 in the co-efficient of retroreflection parameter,” the notice dated July 2, 2024, reads.
The implication of such noncompliance, it noted, is that retroreflective is low hence diminishing visibility especially at night and increasing the risk of road accidents.
Warning against consequences, the agency told the manufacturers, importers, wholesalers and retailers to only place on the market such products with valid KeBS standardization marks.
All motor vehicle chevrons and portable warning triangles that shall be found not to comply with the requirements of the relevant standards in the co-efficient of retroreflection parameter shall be seized,” it said.
“...they shall also be destroyed at the importers', manufacturers' and/or dealers' expense,”
This is in addition to undertaking any other administrative and judicial remedies that it may deem fit.
The notice has been issued by the agency’s managing director.
Motor vehicle owners and the general public have also been advised to ensure they only purchase such products with valid KeBS standardisation marks.
Chevrons are designed to maximize a vehicle's visibility, especially in conditions where visibility is compromised.
They are usually affixed to the back of vehicles as trucks and lorries to make the vehicle more visible to other drivers.
