President William Ruto has approved three new bills during a ceremony at State House, Nairobi, on Friday morning. This marked the eighth presidential assent event of 2026.
The legislation includes the National Disaster Risk Management Bill, 2023, the Forest Conservation and Management (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Equalisation Fund Appropriations Bill, 2025. These bills are designed to enhance governance, environmental protection, and equitable development nationwide.
During the ceremony, Deputy Chief of Staff Josphat Nanok highlighted the importance of the newly enacted laws, emphasizing that they will improve institutional coordination and service delivery in critical sectors.
The National Disaster Risk Management Bill, 2023, creates a comprehensive legal and institutional framework for disaster preparedness and response nationwide. “It establishes a comprehensive legal and institutional framework for disaster risk management through the creation of the National Disaster Risk Management Authority and county disaster risk management committees,” Nanok explained.
According to Nanok, the bill aims to strengthen Kenya’s ability to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. Notably, the law provides a clear statutory basis for the President to declare a national state of disaster when a coordinated response is required.
The law also empowers the President to direct necessary interventions, including resource mobilization and evacuation of affected populations, to protect lives and property during emergencies.
The second law, the Forest Conservation and Management (Amendment) Bill, 2025, aims to strengthen Kenya’s forestry governance by promoting sustainable forest management and community involvement in conservation. “A key feature of the bill is the establishment of the Directorate of Forest Regulation,” he stated.
The new directorate will enforce compliance with the Act, license forest professionals, and promote adherence to national forest standards.
Meanwhile, the Equalisation Fund Appropriations Bill, 2025, outlines the allocation of resources from the Equalisation Fund as stipulated by Article 204 of the Constitution. The deputy chief of staff noted that the bill allocates Sh16.2 billion to 34 counties identified as marginalized by the Commission on Revenue Allocation under its Second Policy on Marginalisation.
“The fund will support the implementation of critical development projects across designated constituencies within these counties,” he stated.
The latest approval brings the total number of bills signed into law by President Ruto in 2026 to eight, indicating an active legislative agenda focusing on reforms in disaster management, environmental governance, and equitable development financing.