KEBS Warns Manufacturers Against Misusing Standardisation Marks on Miraa-Infused ‘Jaba Juice’ as Consumer Protection Concerns and Regulatory Scrutiny Intensify in Kenya
The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has warned manufacturers and traders against displaying its Standardisation Mark on beverages infused with khat, commonly known as miraa or muguka, and marketed as “jaba juice.”
In a public notice issued on Friday, October 16, 2026, the standards agency raised concerns that some manufacturers had allegedly been using certification permits issued for fruit juices and fruit drinks to market beverages containing miraa. KEBS clarified that such permits only cover products specifically approved under the relevant certification and cannot be extended to other products outside the approved scope.
The warning has drawn attention to questions surrounding product certification, consumer protection, the regulation of emerging beverages and the responsibility of manufacturers to provide accurate information about the products they sell.
KEBS explained that khat and its derivatives are currently excluded from its product certification scheme because of regulatory considerations associated with the plant’s psychoactive constituents, including cathinone and cathine. As a result, the agency stated that it has not issued Standardisation Mark permits for khat-infused beverages.
The bureau cautioned that displaying the Standardisation Mark on these drinks, or claiming that KEBS has certified them, misrepresents their certification status. It warned that manufacturers and traders found engaging in the practice could face enforcement action under the Standards Act.
KEBS Raises Concern Over Certification Claims
The latest warning centres on the use of the Standardisation Mark, commonly referred to as the S-Mark, on products that have not been approved under the relevant certification scheme.
The mark plays an important role in Kenya’s consumer protection system. It helps consumers identify locally manufactured products that have been assessed against applicable Kenyan standards or approved specifications.
According to KEBS, obtaining the mark involves an assessment process that can include factory inspections, sampling, laboratory analysis and checks on whether a product meets the relevant requirements. Certification permits are issued for specific products and production arrangements, rather than serving as blanket approval for everything a manufacturer produces.
This distinction is at the centre of the concern surrounding jaba juice. A manufacturer may hold a valid permit for a particular fruit juice or fruit drink, but that permit does not automatically cover a different beverage made with miraa.
In practical terms, approval for one product cannot be used to suggest that another product has undergone the same evaluation. The ingredients, production process, intended use and applicable standards may differ, making it necessary to establish the regulatory status of each product separately.
KEBS says it has identified cases in which certification permits intended for fruit juices and fruit drinks were being used to market miraa-infused beverages. The agency’s warning is therefore directed at the alleged misuse of an existing certification status to create an impression of approval for a different category of drink.
The issue is significant because consumers may rely on a recognised certification mark when deciding whether a product is suitable for purchase and consumption. If a mark is displayed outside the scope of the permit, customers may be led to believe that the product has passed checks that were never conducted for it.
The agency has also indicated that it has revoked certification permits in identified cases of non-compliance and will continue conducting market surveillance to identify manufacturers and traders who misuse the mark.
Why KEBS Has Excluded Miraa-Infused Drinks From Its Certification Scheme
Miraa, also known as khat or muguka depending on the variety and context, is a plant traditionally chewed in parts of Kenya and the wider Horn of Africa. It contains naturally occurring stimulant compounds, including cathinone and cathine, which can affect the central nervous system.
These compounds are among the regulatory considerations KEBS has cited in explaining why khat and khat-derived products are currently excluded from its product certification scheme.
The exclusion means that manufacturers cannot use the agency’s Standardisation Mark to suggest that miraa-infused beverages have been certified under the existing scheme. It does not, by itself, establish that every such beverage contains a particular contaminant or has caused a specific illness. Rather, KEBS is clarifying the limits of its current certification framework and warning against claims that go beyond those limits.
For consumers, the distinction matters. Product certification is not simply about whether a beverage looks attractive, tastes good or is sold in a clean-looking bottle. It concerns whether the product has been assessed under the applicable regulatory requirements and whether the information displayed to customers accurately reflects that assessment.
The absence of the S-Mark does not automatically establish every possible safety characteristic of a product. Equally, the presence of a familiar mark on a label should not be accepted as proof of approval when the relevant authority says the product category has not been certified.
The central issue raised by KEBS is therefore the accurate representation of certification status, alongside the need for an appropriate regulatory framework for products containing psychoactive ingredients.
What Is ‘Jaba Juice’ and Why Is It Drawing Attention?
The term “jaba juice” is commonly used to describe beverages infused with khat or miraa. The name has gained attention as traders market drinks that combine a familiar beverage format with ingredients derived from a plant known for its stimulant properties.
The presentation of such products as bottled or prepared drinks raises questions that differ from those associated with traditional consumption of miraa. Consumers may want to know exactly what ingredients have been used, how much of each ingredient is present, how the drink was prepared, how it should be stored and what health considerations may apply.
However, the precise formulation of every product sold under the name jaba juice should not be assumed to be identical. Products may differ in their ingredients, concentration, preparation methods and packaging. Without verified product information or laboratory results, it would be inappropriate to make blanket claims about their composition or effects.
That uncertainty makes transparent labelling and accurate marketing particularly important. Consumers should be able to understand what they are purchasing without being misled by a certification logo or a claim that an authority has approved the product.
The KEBS warning also highlights the importance of distinguishing between a product’s popularity and its regulatory status. A beverage may attract customers or develop a market without necessarily having received the approvals that consumers associate with a recognised quality mark.
For traders, the warning serves as a reminder that marketing a product under a catchy name does not remove the responsibility to comply with applicable standards and regulatory requirements. Manufacturers must ensure that the claims made on their labels and in their advertising accurately reflect the product’s status.
