President Ruto signs four Bills into law to bolster governance, service delivery

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

The Public Finance Management Amendment Bill is set to strengthen accountability and oversight of government funds in Kenya.

It is also meant to create a standardized mechanism that ensures grants and allocations reach county governments without bureaucratic delays. 

The Bill also streamlines the legal provisions and ensures monies allocated under intergovernmental agreements can be efficiently tracked, protecting public resources from administrative leakage.

It also introduces penalties for an accounting officer who fails to implement resolutions made by either a parliamentary or a county assembly committee on reports by the Controller of Budget on the implementation of national and county government budgets and audit reports by the Auditor-General.

The provision is currently not included in the Public Finance Management Act.

The Air Passenger Service Charge Amendment Bill streamlines the administration, management, and allocation of revenue collected from air travellers, paving the way for better use of collected revenue collected to support Kenya’s aviation sector and tourism industry.

Passenger air service charges are Ksh.600 for domestic flights and Ksh.6,500 (US$50) for international flights departing the country. The increments were officially enacted on October 15, 2025, when President Ruto assented to the Air Passenger Service Charge (Amendment) Act.

The previous charges stood at Ksh.500 for domestic flights and Ksh.5,100 (US$40) for international flights.

Collected fees are distributed among key state agencies to support infrastructure and safety, among them Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), Kenya Meteorological Service Authority, and the Tourism Fund.

On the other hand, the Kenya National Council for Population and Development Bill will also anchor the National Council for Population and Development in law.

This will allow the Council to set standards for effective monitoring and coordination of population programmes, as it has operated under an Executive Order, limiting its ability to set standards and coordinate effectively. 

The Council is mandated to carry out research and analysis on population issues by developing, publishing, and disseminating policies,

It also plans and publishes materials relating to population and development, identifies and advises the national and county governments on population issues that may not be adequately or appropriately addressed; and establishes standards for population programmes in the country.

The Trust Administration Bill consolidates the Trustees (Perpetual Succession) Act (Cap. 164) and Trustee Act (Cap. 167) to enhance clarity, consistency and accessibility of the law.

The Trustees (Perpetual Succession) Act (Cap. 164) was enacted in 1923 to allow families, religious bodies and charitable organisations to appoint their trustees as body corporates to hold, acquire and manage their properties on their behalf. 

Likewise, the Trustee Act (Cap. 167), enacted in 1929, provides for the appointment, powers and duties of Trustees as unincorporated persons in holding and managing properties held in trust. 

The consolidation now seeks to enhance transparency in the administration of trusts by establishing a formal registration and incorporation framework, requiring the disclosure and maintenance of trust information, and providing for a centralized repository of information relating to trusts.