His Excellency President William Samoei Ruto today assented to the Kenya National Council for Population and Development Bill, 2023 (National Assembly Bill No. 72 of 2023), officially establishing the Kenya National Council for Population and Development (KNCPD) through an Act of Parliament.
The signing ceremony, held at State House, Nairobi, marks a historic milestone in Kenya’s efforts to strengthen population and development planning, policy coordination, and evidence-based decision-making.
The event was attended by senior government officials, including Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning, CPA John Mbadi, Principal Secretary for the State Department for Economic Planning, Dr. Boniface Makokha, and other Principal Secretaries.
The newly enacted law provides a comprehensive legal framework for the Council to effectively coordinate population and development programmes, advise government on emerging demographic issues, and promote the integration of population dynamics into national and county development planning.
Welcoming the enactment of the law, the Acting Director General of the National Council for Population and Development (NCPD), Ms. Lucy Kimondo, described the assent as a major milestone for Kenya’s population and development agenda.
“This is a landmark moment for Kenya’s population and development agenda. The enactment of this law crowns years of effort towards re-establishing the Council on a firm legal foundation.
Operating under an Act of Parliament strengthens our mandate and enhances our capacity to serve all population groups while addressing their unique needs and development aspirations,” said Ms. Kimondo.
She noted that the new legal status will empower the Council to provide stronger policy guidance on population matters, coordinate the implementation of population and development programmes, and advise both national and county governments on emerging demographic trends and their implications for sustainable development.
The Act establishes the Kenya National Council for Population and Development as a body corporate and designates it as the national focal point for population and development matters. Its functions include conducting research and analysis on population issues, developing and disseminating population policies and plans, coordinating stakeholder interventions, mobilizing partnerships, and setting standards for population programmes across the country.
The enactment aligns Kenya with regional and international best practices, where population coordinating institutions are established through legislation to effectively support governments in addressing demographic opportunities and challenges.
The Council is expected to play a pivotal role in ensuring that population dynamics are integrated into planning and budgeting processes at both national and county levels, thereby contributing to the realization of Kenya’s sustainable development goals, inclusive economic growth, and improved quality of life for all citizens.
