NAIROBI, Kenya — William Ruto on Friday signed three major pieces of legislation into law, introducing reforms in the coffee sector, railway infrastructure financing, and the regulation of meteorological services.
The laws — the Coffee Act 2023 (Mediated Version), the Meteorology Act 2023, and the Miscellaneous Fees and Levies (Amendment) Act 2026 — were signed during a ceremony at State House, Nairobi.
Coffee Sector Reforms
The Coffee Act introduces wide-ranging changes to the governance and development of the coffee industry.
Under the new law, regulatory and commercial roles previously undertaken by the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) will be transferred to the Coffee Board of Kenya.
The board will be responsible for regulating and promoting the development of the coffee industry, including issuing permits and licences, registering coffee dealers, and overseeing sector policies and funding models.
It will also collect and maintain industry data, conduct market intelligence, and promote Kenyan coffee in both domestic and international markets.
Additionally, the board will support the application of the Kenya Coffee Mark of Origin and work with the Kenya Bureau of Standards to develop industry standards and codes of practice.
The law further empowers the board to promote regional coffee appellations, regulate coffee marketing and trading, support digital marketing initiatives, and facilitate technology transfer to county governments.
As part of the reforms, coffee research responsibilities currently handled by the Coffee Research Institute will shift to a newly created Coffee Research and Training Institute.
The institute will focus on advancing research, training, and innovation in the sector, including developing new coffee varieties, studying crop diseases, and promoting sustainable production systems.
Railway Development Levy Changes
The Miscellaneous Fees and Levies (Amendment) Act expands the scope of the Railway Development Levy beyond the construction and operation of the Standard Gauge Railway.
The levy will now support a broader range of railway infrastructure projects across the country.
The amended law establishes a Railway Development Levy Fund into which all proceeds from the levy will be deposited.
The fund is intended to ensure that money collected through the levy is dedicated specifically to railway infrastructure development.
The law also allows the funds to be used for the rehabilitation of existing railway systems and for supporting the safety and economic regulation of railway infrastructure.
Such rehabilitation projects will require approval from both the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and the Transport Cabinet Secretary.
To manage the fund, the law establishes the Railway Development Fund Board, which will oversee its administration, approve programmes and budgets, and ensure the efficient use of resources.
Meteorological Services Framework
The Meteorology Act introduces a comprehensive legal framework for the regulation and coordination of meteorological services in Kenya.
The law establishes the Kenya Meteorological Service Authority as the principal technical adviser to both national and county governments on weather and climate matters.
The authority will oversee meteorological data processing, analysis, forecasting, and archiving, while also issuing weather advisories and early warning alerts to support disaster risk reduction.
It will also regulate weather stations used for meteorological data collection and coordinate research and development in the sector.
The Act also establishes the Meteorology Training and Research Directorate, which will serve as a regional training centre offering professional courses in meteorology, operational hydrology and related sciences.
