President William Ruto has assented to four Bills into law, completing the legislative process for new measures covering population and development planning, aviation charges, public finances and the administration of trusts. The President signed the legislation at State House, Nairobi, on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, during a ceremony attended by Cabinet Secretaries and other government officials. Ruto announced the assent in a post on his official X account. The four pieces of legislation 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 National Council for Population and Development legislation gives the council a statutory legal foundation and provides for its role in coordinating population policies and programmes. The council is expected to support evidence-based population planning and strengthen the link between demographic trends and national development planning. The legislation also provides continuity for the existing council, which operates under the State Department for National Planning. Ruto also signed the Air Passenger Service Charge (Amendment) Bill into law. The legislation updates the legal framework governing charges paid by air passengers and provides changes relating to their collection and administration. The amendments form part of efforts to strengthen the regulatory framework governing Kenya’s aviation sector.
The President further assented to the Public Finance Management (Amendment) Bill, 2025, introducing changes to the legal framework governing the management of public resources by national and county governments. The amendments are intended to strengthen provisions on public financial management, accountability and oversight. The legislation also addresses aspects of county financial planning and the handling of statutory deductions, according to reports on the new law. The changes come as the government continues efforts to strengthen controls over public expenditure and improve accountability in the management of state resources.
The fourth law, the Trust Administration Bill, establishes a legal framework for the administration and management of trusts. The law is expected to provide greater clarity on the responsibilities of trustees and the rights of beneficiaries, while strengthening the broader framework governing trusts in Kenya. Trusts are commonly used in estate planning, asset management and arrangements involving the holding and administration of property. The four Bills had completed the parliamentary process before being forwarded to the President for assent.
Their implementation will now depend on the relevant provisions of each law, including their respective commencement dates, and the government institutions responsible for enforcing them. The latest presidential assent adds four pieces of legislation to the growing body of laws enacted under the Ruto administration, covering areas with direct implications for public administration, government finances, aviation regulation and legal arrangements involving trusts.