NAKURU, Kenya — President William Ruto has assented to three Bills into law, marking the eighth presidential assent ceremony of 2026 held at State House, Nairobi.
The Bills signed into law on Friday include the National Disaster Risk Management Bill, 2023, the Forest Conservation and Management (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Equalisation Fund Appropriations Bill, 2025.
The new laws are aimed at strengthening governance systems, improving disaster preparedness, enhancing environmental protection, and advancing equitable development across the country.
Framework for disaster preparedness and response
Speaking during the assent ceremony, Deputy Chief of Staff in the Executive Office of the President, Josphat Nanok, said the National Disaster Risk Management law establishes a comprehensive legal and institutional framework for coordinating disaster preparedness and response.
The law creates the National Disaster Risk Management Authority and county disaster management committees to improve coordination between national and county governments.
“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 said.
The legislation is expected to strengthen Kenya’s capacity to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.
It also provides a statutory basis for the declaration of a national state of disaster by the President, where circumstances require a coordinated national response.
In addition, it empowers the Head of State to direct emergency interventions, including mobilisation of resources and evacuation measures to protect lives and property.
New push for forest governance reforms
The Forest Conservation and Management (Amendment) Bill, 2025, seeks to strengthen Kenya’s forestry governance by promoting sustainable forest use and expanding community participation in conservation efforts.
Nanok noted that the law introduces the Directorate of Forest Regulation, which will oversee compliance and enforcement within the sector.
“A seminal development introduced by the Bill is the establishment of the Directorate of Forest Regulation,” he said.
“The Directorate will be responsible for enforcing compliance with the Act, licensing forest professionals, and promoting adherence to national forest standards.”
The reforms come amid increased government focus on environmental restoration and climate resilience programmes.
Sh16.2bn allocation under Equalisation Fund law
The third law, the Equalisation Fund Appropriations Bill, 2025, provides for the allocation of resources from the Equalisation Fund in line with Article 204 of the Constitution.
According to the Deputy Chief of Staff, the Bill appropriates Sh16.2 billion for distribution to 34 counties identified as marginalised by the Commission on Revenue Allocation under its Second Policy on Marginalisation.
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“The Fund will support the implementation of critical development projects across designated constituencies within these counties,” Nanok said.
The Equalisation Fund is intended to reduce regional disparities by financing basic services such as water, health, roads, and education infrastructure in underserved areas.
Legislative activity in 2026
The latest assent brings the total number of Bills signed into law by President Ruto in 2026 to eight, reflecting an active legislative agenda focused on disaster risk management reforms, environmental governance, and equitable development financing across the country.
