Her father worked as a groundsman at the University of Nairobi. He knew the value of tending and caring, pruning. Her mother, a peasant farmer of extraordinary strength, bore and raised 12 children, one of whom was Esther Ngari, now Managing Director of Kenya Bureau of Standards.
Esther’s dream was to leave home in Nyandarua and become a dental surgeon; instead, she finally settled for Dairy Science and Food Technology at Egerton University.
The pivot proved prophetic. She worked her way to Del Monte (“an answered prayer”) and spent eight years making her bones before the Kenya Meat Commission beckoned with an impossible challenge.
“My task was to revive a facility that had been dormant for 15 years. I was ready.” Her leadership was instrumental in securing the parastatal’s first Food Safety Management System certification in 2012, opening up export markets for Kenyan lamb and goat. Promotion came swiftly. Her extensive experience and deep understanding of quality standards ultimately led her to the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) in 2019, where she served as Director for Standards Development.
In 2023, she became MD. “I didn’t think I was a contender, and not from lack of competence, but from being comfortable in the comfort zone.” She recalls, “I think as women we struggle with self-belief more than men.”
Do you still dream big?
I do.
What’s your biggest dream now?
I want more out of life. I want to achieve greater things while advancing in my career. Becoming a CEO is not my final destination; I believe there is more ahead for me. I’m unsure about what lies ahead, but I know that this is not the definitive end.
Are you surprised that you’re here? Was this part of the plan?
No, if you asked me a few years ago when I was the director, I didn’t think I would become the CEO. Even when the opportunity presented itself, I felt that other colleagues would have been better suited for the job. Not me. But I know this isn’t the end. I’ve always envisioned myself leading an international organisation; that's my dream. This is just a part of the journey.
Your daughter is 24 now, yes? If you were to give her one piece of advice, what advice would that be?
To be careful whom she trusts and also to trust in her capabilities. At her age, many women question themselves about what they are capable of. I wish I had trusted myself more but I couldn’t because I only knew so much. I see a lot of my younger self in her and I am always offering her advice. I am glad she hasn’t taken the same journey as me.
Are there any surprising lessons you’ve learned sitting here at this desk?
Oh my God, quite a lot. One key insight is that I have much more capacity than I initially thought. Remember how I said I didn’t expect to reach this level? I’ve learned the power of teamwork and how empowering others can make a huge difference. On the flip side, I’ve also been surprised by how some individuals can try to bring you down.
Does that change how you view people, humans?
Well, it poses difficult questions: How do I determine who to trust? I need to collaborate with my team to succeed. How can I work with them effectively without possibly opening myself up too much? So, yes, it has.
Has the office changed you much?
I don't think it has. I’ve been here for one and a half to two years, counting my acting period. But I may not be the right person to assess whether it has changed me, as it's often about how others perceive you. The office comes with its pressures and expectations. The expectations are from everybody else who doesn't know me well.
Which decade do you feel like you were most unstable?
After university, my first decade was focused on settling down, getting married, and starting a family. I raised my children over two decades, with a 25-year age difference between the oldest and youngest.
After that, my attention shifted toward advancing my career. So, most unstable? I don’t know, because every challenge was different. They call it work-life balance, but for me, it was about doing what needed to be done at that time. You do what you need to, when you need to, the word isn’t balanced.
Now, my current challenge involves balancing expectations. I have an institution to manage, and we need to deliver results. At the same time, there are political aspects to consider, and perhaps that’s where I haven’t been as successful. I'm still figuring it out.
Who teaches you how to do politics? How do you learn?
No one will ever teach you. You can’t run an institution like this one as you’d run a private entity. The expectations are different. This is a government institution where I need to understand that for every decision I make, there will be a political angle to it. And I think that is what I'm still trying to balance. Nobody teaches you these things; you're supposed to figure out how to go about it.
Are you always aware of your gender as a female leader here?
I am often reminded of this, and I sometimes remind myself. We have grown up in a patriarchal society that designates specific roles for women and men.
I am acutely aware of this dynamic, and there are times when I feel defensive, often because I recognize that my gender plays a significant role in my experiences. I frequently encounter comments like, “How do you thrive among all these men?” For me, my gender influences my experiences in both positive and negative ways.
Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) Managing Director Esther Ngari during an interview at her office in Nairobi on March 13, 2025.
Photo credit: Bonface Bogita | Nation Media Group
I competed for my current position against two other men, and I know that my appointment was based on merit, not gender. However, I also believe that as a woman, I can bring unique strengths to this role that men may not possess.
Under what circumstances do you feel insecure?
Personal attacks against me.
Is there any particular thing you’re questioning now?
Big life question? I don’t think so. I’ve already figured out what my purpose is; to make a difference wherever I go. If you go to Del Monte today, you will know that Esther was there. If you go to Kenya Meat Commission, where I worked longest, you’ll be told Esther was here. My tenure leaves a mark.
If you had no fear at all, what would you do?
I would be more daring in my leadership here. There are things I’d like to implement, but I’m constrained by processes and the need to analyse the potential impact. I’d love to see bolder implementations.
Do you have great extravagance?
While many women indulge in extravagant shoes, handbags, and clothes, I feel I was raised differently. I wouldn’t categorise myself as extravagant in that way.
However, I sometimes purchase items, often in dollars when I’m abroad so I don’t have to deal with conversion rates and the “pain” of spending—such as on a dress, an outfit, or shoes, only to realise that I rarely wear them or have an occasion for them. Perhaps this is my form of extravagance.
We all have habits that we are trying to change so that we are better human beings. What are yours?
Maybe having few friendships. My circle of friends is very small.
Isn’t that a good thing?
I think so. But you know, I also find that sometimes I need more people around me. But one of the things that I have done in my life is to have a small circle of friends, but very strategic friends.
I don't have so many friends the way a lot of women have friends, you know, those friends for chamas, friends for what? I don’t. But sometimes I feel like I missed out on that aspect of my life. I can’t tell why I never had many friends, maybe it’s because of the things I have gone through in life.
I was interested in habits that we change to be better. I’m looking for traits…
Right, I get it. [Pause] Maybe I’m judgmental. I don’t know…Yes, judgmental. Yeah. I think I can easily judge somebody. You can do something, and it will not leave my mind. I will always look at you, depending on what you did at some point.
Are you a spiritual or a religious person?
I am spiritual, and I believe that this has been a source of strength for me, especially in my current position. One thing that helps me stay calm in a fast-paced environment is the knowledge that a supernatural power is in control.
Last week, we faced some challenging situations, and my communications person looked at me and asked, “What do we do?” I reassured her, saying, “Don’t worry. The Lord is fighting this battle for me.”
My spirituality helps me navigate these challenges without feeling the need to confront them physically. I’ve faced many battles in my life, and I've emerged victorious in many of them because of my spiritual inclination.
What’s the most difficult thing you ever had to do?
Sending my firstborn daughter out of the country in the middle of a pandemic. She had to stay out of the country because of Covid-19. That was so difficult for me because I felt helpless as a mother. At some point I asked myself whether I was an irresponsible mother.
If you were to undo one thing in your life, what would that be?
I might have had more children than the three I have, but I am happy with my life and the choices I’ve made. Right now, I feel content and satisfied with my current situation.
Earlier, you asked what validates me the most, and I don’t think I fully answered that. In general, it’s self-satisfaction with what I’ve accomplished that matters to me. While I appreciate external validation—being told I did a good job or receiving a “thank you”—I find that I gain more validation from within myself.
When somebody reads your story in the newspaper, what’s the one thing you hope they come out with?
I hope this inspires others. I want people to understand that positions in government are not reserved for specific individuals. They can reach the same level as Esther, regardless of their background. I’m in this position not because of my upbringing, not because of who I knew, but because I’ve worked myself up the ladder.
If you were a tool, what would you be?
I would be a pen, a marker pen. To leave a mark on people’s lives. In fact, make that a permanent marker. [Chuckles]
