Tuesday 08th September, 2026 11:05 AM|
President William Ruto has signed four Bills into law, paving the way for new rules on public finances, county budgeting, air passenger charges, population planning and the administration of trusts.
The signing took place on on Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at State House, Nairobi, where the four laws are the National Council for Population and Development Bill, Air Passenger Service Charge (Amendment) Bill, Public Finance Management (PFM)(Amendment) Bill 2025 and Trust Administration Bill.
Population council gets new legal footing
The National Council for Population and Development (NCPD) Bill re-establishes the NCPD through an Act of Parliament.
The Bill originated from the Cabinet and was forwarded to Parliament through the Office of the Attorney General. It was sponsored by the Leader of the Majority Party and passed by the National Assembly in 2024 before being sent to the Senate, which introduced amendments.
The two Houses finally agreed on the version that was presented to President Ruto for assent in August.
The new law provides for continuity of the existing council, although its name will change. The council will continue operating under the Ministry of Finance, particularly the State Department for National Planning.
The law also gives the council a statutory foundation, enabling it to meet international obligations and operate alongside similar institutions in other jurisdictions.
Air passenger charges to be remitted more efficiently
The Air Passenger Service Charge (Amendment) Bill seeks to improve the collection and remittance of passenger service charges.
The law requires airlines and collection agents to remit collected passenger service charges to the designated government authority within 25 days after the end of the month in which the charges were issued.
The amendments provide a more efficient mechanism for remitting the funds after administrative expenses incurred in collecting the charges have been deducted.
The law retains statutory oversight mechanisms to ensure the funds are properly managed in line with the Constitution and the Public Finance Management Act.
PFM law tightens public finance management
The Public Finance Management (Amendment) Bill 2025 introduces several changes to the management of public funds.
It establishes a framework for transferring functions between the national and county governments, including costing, resourcing, accountability, and the transfer of assets and liabilities.
The law also provides for accrual accounting, requiring public entities to adopt the accounting standard.
County governments will also be required to complete their finance bills before the start of the next financial year, bringing them in line with the national government’s budget cycle.
The law further requires statutory deductions, including taxes and pension contributions, to be remitted to the relevant entities once deducted.
Accounting officers will now have two months, instead of three, after the end of the financial year to submit financial statements to the Auditor General for audit.
Parliament will also have 21 days, up from 14, to consider the Budget Policy Statement, giving more time for public participation and consultation. The same extension applies to county assemblies considering the County Fiscal Paper.
Trust administration law modernises old statutes
The Trust Administration Bill consolidates the Trustees Perpetual Succession Act of 1923 and the Trustees Act of 1929.
The two laws have been amended several times over the years but were considered outdated in addressing modern challenges surrounding trusteeship.
The new law seeks to modernise the management and administration of trusts while providing transitional arrangements for existing trustees.
It also aligns Kenya’s trust administration framework with anti-money laundering requirements and efforts to combat illicit financial flows.
The changes are intended to strengthen Kenya’s legal framework as the country seeks to maintain its position as a financial hub for the region and beyond.
