NAIROBI, Kenya — President William Ruto has assented to four Bills covering population and development planning, aviation charges, public financial management and trust administration, completing the legislative process required for the measures to become law.
The four Bills are the National Council for Population and Development Bill, Air Passenger Service Charge Amendment Bill, Public Finance Management Amendment Bill 2025 and Trust Administration Bill.
The new laws introduce fresh legal frameworks or amend existing provisions in the four areas, with their implementation now depending on the relevant government agencies and institutions and the commencement provisions contained in each law.
National Council for Population and Development gets legal framework
The National Council for Population and Development Bill establishes the National Council for Population and Development as a statutory body responsible for population and development matters.
The Council will provide a legal basis for coordinating population policies and programmes while strengthening the link between demographic changes and national development planning.
It is also expected to support evidence-based population planning and advise on issues related to population growth, demographic trends and development.
The legislation gives population and demographic planning a clearer institutional framework within Kenya’s broader development agenda.
Air passenger service charges amended
Ruto also signed the Air Passenger Service Charge Amendment Bill into law, changing provisions governing charges paid by air passengers.
The legislation seeks to clarify and update provisions relating to the collection and administration of air passenger service charges.
The amendments come as Kenya continues efforts to strengthen its aviation sector and improve the regulatory framework governing air transport services.
Air passenger service charges form part of the broader financial and regulatory framework supporting aviation operations, with the new amendments expected to guide how the charges are administered under the law.
Public Finance Management framework amended
The President also assented to the Public Finance Management Amendment Bill 2025, amending the legal framework governing the management of public resources by national and county governments.
The changes are intended to strengthen provisions relating to public financial management, accountability and oversight in the use of government funds.
Kenya’s public finance management framework sets out rules for the planning, allocation, expenditure and oversight of public resources at different levels of government.
The amendments therefore affect an important part of the system through which government institutions manage public funds.
Their practical effect will depend on the specific provisions of the enacted law and how the responsible institutions implement them.
Trust Administration Bill creates framework for trusts
The fourth law signed by Ruto is the Trust Administration Bill, which provides a legal framework for the administration and management of trusts in Kenya.
The legislation is intended to establish clearer rules governing trusts and provide guidance on their administration.
Trusts can be used in estate planning, asset management and other arrangements involving the holding and administration of property.
The new framework is expected to provide clearer rules for trustees and beneficiaries while strengthening the wider legal architecture governing trusts.
It could therefore have implications for individuals and institutions involved in the establishment, administration or management of trusts.
Bills complete parliamentary process
The four Bills had already gone through the parliamentary process before being presented to the President for assent.
Presidential assent is the final stage in the legislative process through which a Bill passed by Parliament receives presidential approval and becomes law, subject to any commencement provisions contained in the legislation.
The latest measures cover different areas of governance and economic administration, ranging from demographic planning and aviation to public finance and private asset administration.
Their implementation will now fall to the government agencies, public institutions and other bodies assigned responsibilities under the respective laws.
