Industry Pushes for Tougher Competency Rules as Kenya Moves to Regulate Explosives Sector

By Our Reporter Maurice Momanyi

Fireworks operators have urged the government to make professional training and competency—not payment of licence fees—the primary requirement for anyone seeking to operate in Kenya’s explosives and pyrotechnics industry.

The appeal was made during the conclusion of the public participation forum on the Draft Explosives Bill, 2026, organised by the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs. The proposed legislation seeks to establish a legal framework governing the manufacture, storage, transport and use of explosives through stricter licensing, safety standards and environmental regulations.

Representing the Explosives Association of Kenya, spokesperson Zameer Noorali said the proposed law should ensure that only qualified professionals are licensed to conduct fireworks displays, stage pyrotechnics and other public entertainment involving explosives.

According to the association, applicants should be required to undergo recognised training, supervised practical experience, fire safety and first aid certification, risk assessment training and competence testing before receiving licences.

The industry warned that issuing licences based solely on payment of prescribed fees could compromise public safety and increase the risk of accidents during public events.

The association also called on the Ministry to establish a separate regulatory framework for fireworks and pyrotechnics, arguing that the sector serves a fundamentally different purpose from mining and blasting explosives.

Noorali said fireworks are primarily used during national celebrations, concerts, sporting events, weddings, religious festivals and other entertainment functions, making it inappropriate to regulate them under the same provisions that govern commercial blasting operations.

While supporting the government’s efforts to streamline the industry, stakeholders expressed concern over some of the proposed licensing charges. Under the Draft Explosives Bill, a pyrotechnician would pay an application fee of KSh500, a certificate fee of KSh1,000 and an annual renewal fee of KSh1,000. Fireworks contractors would be required to pay a KSh1,000 application fee alongside a KSh20,000 licence fee and an equivalent annual renewal fee.

The association urged the Ministry to review the proposed charges to ensure they encourage compliance without driving legitimate operators into unregulated business. It also called for a review of manufacturing fees, import permit charges and dealer licensing requirements, particularly for low-risk consumer fireworks.

Stakeholders further recommended that the Bill incorporate proven safety measures such as mandatory supervision, use of personal protective equipment, emergency response planning, incident reporting and proper record-keeping, while adapting the standards to reflect the unique nature of the fireworks industry.

The Explosives Association of Kenya also appealed for formal recognition of the Fireworks and Pyrotechnics Association of Kenya as the umbrella body representing industry players as Parliament considers the Draft Explosives Bill, 2026.