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KFS conducts second ISO audit |
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The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has conducted the second internal audit aimed at making sure that it complies to the requirements of ISO 2008:9001 which it will adopt and implement to improve service delivery. The audit which was undertaken by the ISO Steering Committee covered all the Zones, Conservancies and the Headquarters in a two week exercise.
The auditors were tasked to check the compliance of the various functions in the documented procedures and processes which KFS had undertaken to implement. This follows countrywide sensitization of staff on the provisions of the ISO standards which are internationally recognized procedures of implementing organizational mandates. After the sensitization, there followed workshops in which officers from various divisions, departments and sections documented their processes.
The first internal audit was conducted earlier in the year where some none conformities were raised and the relevant officers asked to correct them. The second internal audit was thus the check on the progress so far and to prepare KFS staff for the final audit which will be conducted by independent external auditors. The certification of KFS as ISO 2008:9001 compliant will be on the basis of the results of the external audit.
According to the Quality Management Representative (QMR) Mr. James Wainaina, the auditors noted tremendous improvement in terms of compliance to the standards both at the headquarters and in the field. It is hoped that with continual improvement, the Service will be ready for the final audit and the eventual certification.
The ISO auditors (from right) Francis Kaindi, Joseph Ochiel and Leakey Sonkoyo interview the Zonal Manager for Moyale Mr. Erick Chemitei (left) during the second ISO internal audit at his office in Moyale
Story by Leakey Sonkoyo and pictures by Francis Kaindi
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ISO 9001:2008 Quality policy and procedures manuals |
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The Kenya Forest Service embarked on a process that will see it acquire the International Organisation of Standardization certificate 9001:2008 also known as ISO 9001:2008. The one year process which begun in July 2010 will end in June this year and put KFS in the league of Kenyan organisations that have embraced international standards in customer service delivery.
The government has directed that all its institutions adopt internationally recognized customer service delivery approaches in its general bid to improve the lives of Kenyans as it accelerates social-economic development in the country. Already a number of government institutions led by parastatals and ministries have embraced the process while many others are in the process of implementing relevant certification standards.
According to the Quality Management Representative (QMR) for KFS Mr. Abraham Watta, the Service took up ISO certification at the appropriate time as it is still in its formative stages of development. He added that with the establishment of quality management systems, KFS will be at a vantage position both in service delivery to its many customers as well as being able to implement its various programmes in an efficient, effective and transparent manner.
The process which is being spearheaded from the Corporate Services Division has seen the sensitization of staff in eight conservancies with the remaining two expected to be sensitized by the beginning of February 2011. This has been done with the guidance of a consulting firm Afri-Aviation Ltd who are also assisting with the whole certification process.
At a recent workshop by the KFS ISO Steering committee, the ISO 9001:2008 Quality policy and procedures manuals for KFS were documented and handed over to the Director for comments. Following its approval by management, an implementation launch will be held in late February pending the official certification in June 2011.
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Regional ISO training at Thika |
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KFS staff from Thika zone being taken through the 8 ISO principles by the AfriAviation facilitators
The ISO training for the regional KFS staff continued in Thika. The training took place at SACDEP where staff from Murang'a South (Maragua) and Thika Zones were the attendants |
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Regional ISO training for KFS field staff kicks off |
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KFS is in the process of ISO 9001:2008 certification. AfriAviation solutions Limited was contracted to guide KFS through the ISO certification process which was officialy launched by KFS Director, Mr. D.K Mbugua on June 2010. According to AfriAviation Solutions, the process shall be completed after one year thus KFS shall be ISO certified on July 2011.
The process requires all KFS staff be trained on what they are supposed to put in place for ISO certification to be achieved. The top management team was first trained, then Steering committee training and later all KFS Headquarter staff were trained.
ISO training for the field staff kicked off on 20th September 2010 at the coast conservancy. AfriAviation facilitators made the training interactive and enjoyable. The attendants appreciated the training and promised to implement what they were trained in order to offer quality services to KFS customers. The field officers agreed that, after ISO quality management system is in place, the documented working procedures shall make their work easy and enjoyable.
 
Coast Conservancy staff keenly following the ISO training proceedings
KFS Staff from Malindi zone pose for a group photo with the the facilitators
After training at coast conservancy, the training proceeded to the central highlands conservancy which has the highest number of staff. The staff turned out in large numbers which is an indication that they are eger to know what ISO is about. Every staff was supposed to attend the training and the Head of central conservancy promised to follow up with those who naver attended the training. The HOC also confirmed that, he was doing everything possible to make KFS ISO Certified and was motivating central highlands staff to implement what they have been trained.
 
KFS staff from Laikipia zone (left) and Nyer zone (right) attentively following the ISo training. The training took place at Nyahururu and Nyeri respectively.
KFS staff from Nyeri zone pose for a group photo with facilitators after the training.
The training will continue to other forest conservancies and is expected to be completed by February 2011.
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ISO CERTIFICATION TRAINING FOR KFS HQ STAFF |
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This training was organized for all employees of KFS. This is organized in order to make the staff understand the process of ISO Certification.
The training took five days from 5th July 2010 to 9th July 2010 at KFS Canteen room. The training was facilitated by the AfriAviation consultants.
The training was entertaining and open to every one. The Staff were taken through the eight Quality Management Principles and the eight sections of the ISO 9001:2008 Standard.
After the training, KFS staff appreciated the training and confessed that they now understand better about the ISO certification and agreed to help KFS in any way possible during the certification Process.
KFS Staff keenly following the training session as the facilitator Mr. Michael Mutuku takes them through the eight Quality Management Principles |
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