Ruto enacts Public Benefit Organisations Act

President William Ruto has announced the operationalisation of the Public Benefits Organisations  (PBO) Act.

The Act has now replaced the Non-Governmental Organisations Coordination (NGO) Act.

This was done in recognition of the indispensable capacity of the civil society sector in promoting edducation, awareness, inclusion, participation and mobilising collective action.

"The new PBO Act that was enacted almost 15 years ago but we operationalised it yesterday (May 9, 2024). We have now consolidated the operations of civil society into one predictable legal regime," he said.

Ruto said the NGO Act put the civil society through what he termed as a chaotic mechanism adding that it had almost eight pieces of legislation governing their operations.

The President said the NGOs can now understand how registration will happen and how to conduct businesses.

"Most importantly, we have made it now possible for Public Benefit Organisations from out of Kenya not to be taken through unnecessary rigorous explanations before they start operations in the country," he said.

At the same time, he said development cannot be the exclusive preserve of the executive or those who monopolise power.

Ruto stated that for development to be meaningful, it must be a whole-of-society coalition, bringing politicians, government officials, opposition leaders, civil socities and NGOs into one space.

He said this space, can be used to figure out the future.

"That is why our commitment to establish a platform of engagement bringing together MSMEs and business owners, civil societies, faith-based groups, youth, women and others to address the national cohesion and inequality challenges in very central," he said.

The President said he is now persuaded that civil society has a real chance of making a contribution to making the country better.