Ruto Signs Four Bills Into Law at State House

NAIROBI, Kenya – President William Ruto has assented to four Bills aimed at strengthening public finance management, governance and service delivery in the country.

The signing ceremony took place at State House, Nairobi.

The new laws are the Public Finance Management (Amendment) Act, the Air Passenger Service Charge (Amendment) Act, the Kenya National Council for Population and Development Act and the Trust Administration Act.

President Ruto said the legislation would improve accountability, modernise existing legal frameworks and strengthen the administration of public institutions.

“Assented to four transformative Bills at State House, Nairobi,” the President said.

“The new pieces of legislation mark a major step forward in strengthening governance, accountability and service delivery in our country.”

The Public Finance Management amendment strengthens the framework governing the management of public resources.

According to the President, the legislation is intended to promote prudent financial management and reinforce accountability in the use of taxpayers’ money.

The Air Passenger Service Charge amendment, meanwhile, seeks to streamline the administration of charges imposed on passengers travelling by air.

The levy is collected from passengers departing through Kenyan airports and supports services within the aviation sector.

President Ruto said the amendment would improve how the charge is administered.

The Kenya National Council for Population and Development Act gives the council a firm legal foundation.

The institution previously operated under an executive order, a situation the President said restricted its ability to establish standards and coordinate population and development matters effectively.

The council advises the government on population policies and coordinates programmes linking demographic trends to national development.

Its establishment through an Act of Parliament is expected to strengthen its authority, institutional structure and coordination role.

The Trust Administration Act consolidates Kenya’s laws governing trusts into one framework.

President Ruto described it as a historic modernisation of the country’s trust law, noting that it repeals statutes that have been in operation for about a century.

“The Trust Administration Bill is a historic modernisation of our trust law. It repeals century-old statutes and consolidates the law governing trusts into a single, coherent framework,” he said.

Trusts are legal arrangements through which property or assets are held and managed by one party for the benefit of another.

The new law provides a consolidated framework for their establishment, administration and regulation.

The four Bills became law following the President’s assent, completing the legislative process after their approval by Parliament.