The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has issued a warning over the sale of miraa-infused beverages commonly marketed as jaba juice, cautioning consumers against products falsely claiming to have met its quality certification requirements.
In a public notice dated Friday, October 16, 2026, KEBS said it had uncovered cases where manufacturers used certification permits issued for fruit juices and fruit drinks to market beverages containing khat, also known as miraa or muguka.
The standards agency clarified that its Standardization Mark (S-Mark) permits only apply to products specifically covered under an approved certification scope and cannot be used to market other products.
“KEBS has therefore not issued Standardization Mark permits for any khat-infused beverages,” the agency stated.
The notice raises questions about the certification claims made by traders selling jaba juice, a beverage prepared using khat, a plant whose stimulant properties have attracted regulatory attention.
Why KEBS Is Flagging Jaba Juice
According to KEBS, khat and products derived from the plant are currently excluded from its product certification scheme because of regulatory considerations linked to the plant's psychoactive constituents.
The agency specifically identified cathinone and cathine as compounds informing the regulatory considerations surrounding khat products.
KEBS warned that displaying its Standardization Mark on khat-infused beverages or claiming that the products are certified amounts to misrepresenting their certification status.
The agency further cautioned that such actions could attract enforcement measures under the Standards Act, Cap. 496.
“KEBS has revoked certification permits in identified cases of non-compliance and will continue to undertake market surveillance and take appropriate action against manufacturers and traders found misusing the Standardization Mark,” the notice stated.
The agency did not identify the manufacturers involved or disclose the number of affected products in the notice.
Warning to Manufacturers and Traders
KEBS has urged manufacturers and traders to stop displaying its Standardization Mark on khat-infused beverages or making claims suggesting the products have received its certification.
The agency also reminded businesses that obtaining certification for one category of products does not automatically authorise them to market other products under the same approval.
For instance, a manufacturer authorised to produce fruit juice cannot use that permit as evidence that a separate khat-infused beverage has been certified.
The warning places businesses dealing in jaba juice on notice as KEBS continues surveillance of products in the market.
What Consumers Should Do
Consumers have been advised to verify the certification status of products before relying on claims made on their packaging or by sellers.
KEBS directed members of the public to use its official verification channels, including SMS code 20023, to check product certification details.
The public can also report suspected misuse of the Standardization Mark through the agency's toll-free number, 1545.
The agency said the measures were intended to protect consumers, preserve the credibility of its certification system and ensure compliance with applicable Kenyan standards and regulatory requirements.
The notice does not state that all beverages marketed as jaba juice have been found unsafe. Rather, KEBS' central warning is that khat-infused beverages are not currently certified by the agency, and any claim suggesting otherwise is misleading.
Manufacturers and traders who continue to misuse the certification mark risk enforcement action under the law.
