Ruto Assents to Four Bills Targeting Governance, Public Finance and Service Delivery

President William Ruto has assented to four Bills into law, introducing changes aimed at strengthening governance, improving public financial management and streamlining service delivery across key sectors.

The laws signed on Tuesday cover public finance management, air passenger service charges, population and development planning, and trust administration.

The four are the Public Finance Management Amendment Bill, Air Passenger Service Charge Amendment Bill, Kenya National Council for Population and Development Bill and Trust Administration Bill.

Public Finance Law Strengthens Oversight

The Public Finance Management Amendment Act seeks to strengthen accountability and oversight in the management of government funds.

One of its key provisions is the establishment of a standardised mechanism to ensure grants and allocations reach county governments without unnecessary bureaucratic delays.

The law also streamlines provisions governing funds allocated under intergovernmental agreements, allowing such resources to be tracked more effectively and reducing the risk of administrative leakages.

It further introduces penalties for accounting officers who fail to implement resolutions made by parliamentary or county assembly committees concerning reports by the Controller of Budget on the implementation of national and county government budgets, as well as reports by the Auditor-General.

The provision was not previously contained in the Public Finance Management Act.

Air Passenger Charges Law Targets Aviation and Tourism

The Air Passenger Service Charge Amendment Act provides a framework for the administration, management and allocation of revenue collected from air travellers.

The changes are expected to support better utilisation of passenger service charge revenues in financing Kenya's aviation infrastructure, safety and tourism-related activities.

Passengers currently pay Ksh600 for domestic flights and Ksh6,500 (US$50) for international flights departing Kenya.

The revised charges were enacted on October 15, 2025, when President Ruto assented to the Air Passenger Service Charge (Amendment) Act.

Before the increase, passengers paid Ksh500 for domestic flights and Ksh5,100 (US$40) for international departures.

Revenue from the charges is distributed among key government agencies responsible for aviation infrastructure, safety and tourism, including the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), Kenya Meteorological Service Authority and Tourism Fund.

Population Council Gets Legal Foundation

The Kenya National Council for Population and Development Act formally anchors the National Council for Population and Development in law.

The council had previously operated under an Executive Order, a situation that limited its ability to establish standards and effectively coordinate population programmes, according to the government.

The new law provides a statutory framework for the council to coordinate and monitor population programmes and develop standards for their implementation.

The council is also mandated to undertake research and analysis on population issues and to develop, publish and disseminate relevant policies and information.

Its responsibilities include identifying population and development issues that may not be adequately addressed and advising national and county governments on appropriate interventions.

The council will also establish standards for population programmes across the country.

Trust Administration Law Consolidates Framework

The Trust Administration Act consolidates two longstanding laws governing trusts—the Trustees (Perpetual Succession) Act (Cap. 164) and the Trustee Act (Cap. 167).

The legislation seeks to improve clarity, consistency and accessibility in the administration of trusts in Kenya.

The Trustees (Perpetual Succession) Act was enacted in 1923 and enabled families, religious organisations and charitable institutions to incorporate trustees as bodies corporate capable of holding, acquiring and managing property on behalf of beneficiaries and organisations.

The Trustee Act, enacted in 1929, provides for the appointment, powers and duties of trustees operating as unincorporated persons in holding and managing property placed in trust.

The new framework seeks to strengthen transparency in trust administration by establishing formal registration and incorporation procedures.

It will also require the disclosure and maintenance of information relating to trusts and provide for a centralised repository of trust information.

Focus on Governance and Service Delivery

The four laws represent a broad set of reforms affecting public finances, aviation, population planning and private property administration.

The changes are intended to strengthen accountability in the management of public resources, improve the administration of revenue collected from air travellers, provide a statutory foundation for population planning and modernise Kenya's legal framework governing trusts.

With the President's assent, the measures now form part of Kenya's legal framework, subject to the commencement provisions contained in the respective laws.