President Ruto and UN secretary General Antoni Guterres at the 2024 UN civil Society conference in Nairobi

2024 UN Civil Society Conference

President Williams Ruto has operationalised the Public Benefits Organisations Act (PBO), a law enacted 15 years ago to govern civil society organisations but one that had not been effected.

The President announced the operationalizing of the Public Benefits Organisations Act (PBO) to delegates attending the just concluded 2024 UN Civil Society Conference attended by UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutarres, saying the decision demonstrates the government’s commitment to forging a strong partnership with civil society.

“Civil society has a role to play in the development of our country. We may not necessarily always agree, but that is the beauty of having diverse opinions,” he added.

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

President Ruto pointed out that the Act has consolidated all legislation governing civil society organisations into one predictable legal regime.

“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.

“We have made it possible for Public Benefit Organisations from outside Kenya not to be taken through unnecessary vigorous processes before they begin their operations in Kenya,” he added.

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

“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,” Ruto said.