About Ambassador Steve Mbugua — Safety Advocate & Champion
✅ Who He Is
Ambassador Steve Mbugua is widely known as an Ambassador of Safety and a leading voice in occupational safety and health (OSH) advocacy in Kenya and beyond. His work centers on building a culture of safety that goes beyond mere compliance to standards — focusing on prevention, preparedness, and effective response.
Qualifications & Professional Roles
Amb. Steve Mbugua brings in-depth training, advisory experience, and workplace safety behavior change coaching to his advocacy. He is Nebosh HSE Leadership Excellence Certified and holds leadership roles in several organizations focused on safety and preparedness:
Founder & Executive Director of Makinika Afrika International — a premier health and safety training institution in Kenya and Africa.
Group CEO of Nairobi Safety Shop Limited — one of East and Central Africa’s largest suppliers of safety, security, and health equipment.
Mission & Philosophy
Ambassador Mbugua’s core mission is powerful and simple: to build a culture of safety in all environments — workplaces, schools, churches, communities, and households — at all times. This isn’t just rhetoric; it’s reflected in his training programs, public advocacy, and social media outreach.
He believes that safety is a proactive habit, not a reactive response — encouraging individuals, employers, and institutions to think ahead, prepare effectively, and mitigate risks before they happen.
Impact & Influence
Ambassador Mbugua’s influence is broad and growing:
He has trained corporate teams, first responders, community groups, schools and church members on practical safety measures such as first aid, emergency response, fire safety and hazard awareness.
Through his platforms, he translates OSH concepts into everyday life — encouraging safety preparedness even outside formal workplace settings.
His message integrates global safety standards with real, local contexts, making safety principles relatable and actionable for Kenyans at every level.
Programs & Training Initiatives
Ambassador Mbugua runs specialized safety training courses that cover critical aspects of occupational safety, including:
Risk management and hazard identification
Regulatory compliance
Emergency preparedness and response
Health promotion at work
These courses mix practical skills with real-world applications — ensuring participants can immediately apply what they’ve learned to their workplaces and communities.
Qualities & Achievements
Ambassador Mbugua is recognized for:
Holistic safety advocacy — promoting safety not only at work but in every environment.
Scaling safety impact nationally through training, products, and public engagement.
Bridging regulatory requirements (like OSHA 2007 in Kenya) with practical, accessible safety education.
About the Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services (DOSHS)
Mandate & Mission
The Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services (DOSHS) is a key government body under the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection in Kenya, tasked with safeguarding the health, safety, and welfare of workers across all sectors.
Its core mandate includes ensuring compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) of 2007, which is Kenya’s foundational OSH law designed to prevent workplace accidents, injuries, and diseases.
Functions & Services
DOSHS delivers a broad range of services that promote workplace safety and influence safety culture across the country:
🔹 Regulatory Compliance and Registration
Registers workplaces, plants, approved persons, and institutions.
Ensures workplaces meet legal OSH standards before operations begin.
🔹 Workplace Inspections & Audits
Conducts inspections and audits to identify hazards and enforce compliance.
Issues improvement notices or prohibition notices where safety practices fall short.
🔹 Plant & Equipment Examination
Examines critical safety equipment, like boilers and lifting gear, to prevent accidents.
🔹 Medical Surveillance & WIBA Processing
Oversees medical examinations of workers and handles Work Injury Benefits Act (WIBA) cases when injuries occur.
🔹 Training and Awareness
Provides OSH training for workers, employers, committees, and safety professionals.
Educates workplaces on safety laws, rights, and responsibilities.
📍 Presence Across Kenya
DOSHS operates nationally with a headquarters in Nairobi and regional offices across 29 counties, ensuring that safety standards are enforced both locally and nationally.
📈 Impact of DOSHS Work
Through its consistent enforcement and outreach, DOSHS has helped:
Strengthen workplace safety standards.
Reduce workplace hazards through inspections and education.
Support safer work environments in both the formal and informal sectors.
For example, in 2025 the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) received national safety awards after a rigorous DOSHS inspection, highlighting how these standards lead to measurable improvements in workplace practices.
DOSHS, Safety Leaders & the Rise of a Safety Culture in Kenya
DOSHS as the Foundation
DOSHS provides the legal and institutional backbone for occupational safety in Kenya, enforcing OSHA 2007 and shaping the regulatory environment in which safety advocates operate.
How Amb. Steve Mbugua & Kenyan Safety Voices Fit In
Because DOSHS creates standards and expectations for workplace safety:
Ambassador Steve Mbugua leverages these OSH principles to educate, coach, and empower individuals and organizations on why these standards matter in daily life.
Makinika Afrika International builds skills and practical capacities that align with DOSHS goals, amplifying safety awareness in communities and workplaces alike.
Nairobi Safety Shop ensures businesses and organizations can meet regulatory compliance with quality safety gear, closing the gap between policy and practice.
The Bigger Picture
Together, these leaders and institutions are transforming safety in Kenya:
From compliance-focused enforcement to
Culture-driven safety awareness that touches workplaces, schools, communities, and homes.
