NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept. 8, 2026 — President William Ruto has assented to legislation formally establishing the Kenya National Council for Population and Development (KNCPD) as a statutory body with a strengthened mandate to guide the country on population matters and their impact on national development.
The President signed the Kenya National Council for Population and Development Bill, 2023 (National Assembly Bill No. 72 of 2023) into law on Tuesday during a ceremony at State House, Nairobi.
The enactment gives the Council a legal foundation to coordinate population and development programmes, undertake research and provide policy advice on demographic trends affecting Kenya’s economic and social development.
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The signing ceremony was attended by senior government officials, including National Treasury and Economic Planning Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, Principal Secretary for the State Department for Economic Planning Dr. Boniface Makokha, and other Principal Secretaries.
Under the new law, the Kenya National Council for Population and Development becomes a body corporate and the national focal point for population and development matters.
The Council will be responsible for conducting research and analysis on population issues, developing and disseminating population policies and plans, coordinating interventions by different stakeholders and mobilising partnerships to support population and development programmes.
It will also establish standards for population programmes and provide guidance to national and county governments on demographic issues and their implications for development.
The legislation is expected to strengthen the integration of population dynamics into national and county planning and budgeting processes.
This will enable policymakers to better account for issues such as population growth, demographic shifts and the changing needs of different population groups when designing development programmes and allocating public resources.
Acting Director General of the Council, Lucy Kimondo, welcomed the enactment, describing it as an important step in restoring the institution’s legal foundation and strengthening its ability to deliver on its mandate.
Kimondo said the law would provide the Council with greater capacity to address the diverse needs and development aspirations of Kenya’s population.
She said the new legal framework would also enable the institution to offer stronger policy guidance, coordinate population and development programmes and advise both levels of government on emerging demographic trends.
The Council is expected to work with government institutions, development partners and other stakeholders to ensure population-related evidence is incorporated into development policies and programmes.
The legislation further brings Kenya’s population and development coordination framework in line with regional and international practices, where specialised institutions are established under law to advise governments on demographic opportunities and challenges.
Population trends have a direct bearing on planning for essential services, including education, healthcare, housing, employment and social protection.
The government expects the strengthened Council to help improve evidence-based planning and contribute to inclusive economic growth, sustainable development and better quality of life for Kenyans.
The enactment therefore marks a significant step in giving population and development planning a firm institutional and legal framework as Kenya seeks to align demographic realities with its long-term development priorities.
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