Explosives Industry Backs Draft Bill, Calls for Fireworks-Specific Regulations

Explosives Industry Backs Draft Bill, Calls for Fireworks-Specific Regulations

Nairobi, Kenya — Members of the Explosives Association of Kenya have welcomed the government's move to regulate the country's explosives sector, describing the proposed Draft Explosives Bill, 2026 as a major step towards improving safety, professionalism and accountability in an industry that has operated for years with limited regulation.

The stakeholders presented their views during the conclusion of the Draft Explosives Bill, 2026 public participation forum organised by the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs. The proposed legislation seeks to establish a comprehensive legal framework governing the manufacture, storage, transportation, importation, sale and use of explosives in Kenya.

Among the key proposals in the Bill are the introduction of safety standards, licensing requirements, professional training, environmental protection measures and stricter oversight of industry players.

Speaking on behalf of the association, the spokesperson, Zameer Noorali, Managing Director of Jays Pyrotechnics Limited, applauded the ministry's efforts to modernise the sector but urged lawmakers to distinguish fireworks and pyrotechnics from mining explosives.

"We welcome the Ministry's effort to modernise and regulate Kenya's explosives and fireworks framework. However, we respectfully submit that fireworks and pyrotechnics should not be treated in the same manner as mine blasting explosives. Their applications are entirely different," Noorali said.

He noted that fireworks are mainly used during public celebrations, national events, concerts, sporting events, weddings, religious festivals, hotels and other entertainment settings where operations take place in close proximity to the public.

"For that reason, fireworks and pyrotechnics require a dedicated section within the proposed law rather than being regulated under the same provisions as mining explosives," he added.

The Draft Explosives Bill, 2026 proposes an application fee of KSh500, a certificate fee of KSh1,000 and an annual renewal fee of KSh1,000 for licensed pyrotechnicians. It also proposes an application fee of KSh1,000, a licence fee of KSh20,000 and an annual renewal fee of KSh20,000 for fireworks contractors.

While supporting regulation, industry players expressed concern that some of the proposed fees, particularly for fireworks contractors, are higher than necessary and could discourage compliance.

The association maintained that licensing should be based on competence rather than the ability to pay.

"No person should be allowed to obtain a permit and operate fireworks, stage pyrotechnics, rooftop pyrotechnics, close-proximity pyrotechnics or public displays unless they are properly trained, certified, insured and licensed under the appropriate class of pyrotechnician licence," Noorali said.

He added that permits should not be issued simply because an applicant has paid the required fees.

"Fees should only cover administrative costs. Before any person is licensed as a pyrotechnician or fireworks contractor, they should demonstrate competence through recognised training, supervised practical experience, fire safety training, first aid certification, firing-system knowledge, risk assessment skills and certification from an approved training institution," he said.

On licensing fees, the association urged the Ministry to ensure the charges remain fair, practical and proportionate so that they promote compliance without pushing operators into the informal sector.

The stakeholders also called for a review of manufacturing licence fees, dealer licensing fees, import permit charges and purchase permit fees for low-value consumer fireworks. They further requested clear distinctions between dealer permits and dealer licences to eliminate confusion within the industry.

Additionally, the association urged the Ministry to adopt safety principles already recognised under the Mine Health, Safety and Environment Regulations, including competency-based training, certified supervision, the use of personal protective equipment, emergency preparedness, incident reporting, investigations and proper record-keeping.

However, they emphasised that while these principles are applicable, they should be implemented through a framework specifically designed for fireworks and pyrotechnics rather than by replicating regulations intended for mine blasting operations.

The industry players also appealed to the government to formally recognise the Fireworks and Pyrotechnics Association of Kenya as the sector's umbrella body to represent stakeholders in future policy discussions and regulatory reforms.

The Ministry is expected to review submissions from stakeholders before finalising the Draft Explosives Bill, 2026 for consideration as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen safety, environmental protection and professionalism within Kenya's explosives industry.