The Bungoma County Assembly has secured ISO 9001:2015 certification following a rigorous audit, becoming the first county assembly in Kenya to attain the quality management standard as it seeks to strengthen accountability, improve institutional efficiency and enhance service delivery.

Speaking during the handover of the certification at the assembly premises, Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) Chief Executive Officer Esther Ngari said the achievement demonstrates the assembly’s commitment to establishing effective institutional systems and maintaining consistent standards in its operations.

Ngari said the certification was an important step towards building a culture of continuous improvement, where institutional processes are regularly assessed and strengthened to meet the needs of the public.

She revealed that the assembly underwent a tough audit before it was cleared to get the certification.

“The move demonstrates a deliberate commitment to strengthening institutional systems, improving consistency in service delivery and creating a culture of continuous improvement,” she said.

She commended the assembly’s leadership for investing in the processes required to achieve certification, noting that county assemblies play a critical constitutional role in representing citizens and overseeing county governments.

Further Ngari said that the ISO 9001:2015 quality management system provides a framework for institutions to establish clear procedures, monitor performance, identify weaknesses and continually improve the quality of services they offer.

She said the standard was particularly important for public institutions, where the effectiveness of internal systems directly affects accountability and the experience of citizens seeking services.

“This is where ISO 9001:2015 becomes relevant. At its heart, a quality management system is about ensuring that an organization 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 emphasized that quality management should not be left to a particular department or a few members of staff but should be integrated into the operations of the entire institution.

She said the certification would only have a meaningful impact if the assembly translated the standards into its daily activities, including decision-making, administrative procedures and the delivery of services to residents.

“For a public institution, quality is about the people and about whether the processes work,” she said.

“The quality management system provides a structured approach to support the mission. Let me emphasize one important point, quality is not about one department or one office, quality belongs to everyone,” she added.

The KEBS chief executive cautioned the assembly against treating the certificate as merely a symbol of achievement, urging its leadership and staff to maintain the required standards beyond the certification ceremony.

She said the institution would need to demonstrate continued compliance during subsequent surveillance audits, which assess whether an organization is maintaining and implementing the quality management system.

“Let the certificate not be hung on the wall. I know you are going to display it and speak about it, but let it live in your processes, decisions and daily work. It should not be that when you hear we are coming for a surveillance audit, you start clearing your house,” she said.

Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka welcomed the certification, saying it placed the county assembly among public institutions pursuing recognised quality management standards to improve service delivery.

Lusaka said other county institutions, including Bungoma County Referral Hospital and Webuye County Hospital, had also acquired ISO certification as part of efforts to strengthen their operations.

“The County Assembly today is just joining the list of other institutions that were certified to improve service delivery,” Lusaka said.

He noted that the certification process was an opportunity for public institutions to review their systems, address operational weaknesses and improve the way they serve residents.

Bungoma County Assembly Clerk Charles Wafula and Speaker Emmanuel Situma pledged to guide the institution in implementing the requirements of the quality management system and ensuring that the certification translates into improved performance.

The two said the assembly would work within the ISO framework to strengthen its internal processes and promote quality service delivery.