The Government of Kenya has defended President William Ruto’s decision to sign eight bills into law, saying the move complied fully with constitutional timelines and was vital for the smooth running of government. Speaking at the Harambee Annex Media Centre on Thursday, Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura said the process followed all legal and procedural requirements under Article 115 of the Constitution.
Mwaura explained that the bills were passed by the National Assembly on October 15, 2025, and later presented for assent in line with established timelines. “The presentation of the bills for assent was pre-arranged and scheduled to ensure compliance with constitutional, statutory, and procedural timelines, as well as international commitments,” he said.
The eight laws include the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act, Wildlife Conservation and Management (Amendment) Act, National Police Service Commission (Amendment) Act, Land (Amendment) Act, National Land Commission (Amendment) Act, Air Passenger Service Charge (Amendment) Act, Virtual Asset Service Providers Act, and the Privatisation Act.
Mwaura clarified that the changes to the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act were not meant to limit freedom of expression or empower agencies to silence critics. Instead, he said, the law strengthens Kenya’s capacity to combat cybercrime while safeguarding digital rights.
He also highlighted that the new Virtual Asset Service Providers Act marks Kenya’s first comprehensive law to regulate cryptocurrencies and digital assets. According to Mwaura, the legislation positions Kenya as a leader in financial technology innovation while protecting citizens from fraud, money laundering, and terrorism financing. “The law also responds to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations and will help remove Kenya from its ‘grey list’ by boosting compliance with global anti-money-laundering standards,” he said.
He added that both the Privatisation Act and the Virtual Asset Service Providers Act form part of Kenya’s commitments to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other global partners, ensuring alignment with the country’s financial and governance frameworks.
Mwaura emphasized that all the bills went through proper public participation, parliamentary scrutiny, and committee review before being passed. “No law will be used to suppress legitimate freedoms or alienate national assets unlawfully,” he said, noting that all government actions remain guided by the Constitution and open to judicial review.
Beyond the legislative agenda, Mwaura announced that President Ruto will on October 27, 2025, launch the Mau Forest Complex Integrated Conservation and Livelihood Improvement Programme (MFC-ICLIP) at Baringo Primary School in Kuresoi North, Nakuru County. The Sh21.5 billion, ten-year programme aims to restore the Mau Forest Complex, Kenya’s largest water tower, covering 403,000 hectares and feeding 12 major rivers that support millions of people, farming, and wildlife.
The project, he said, will combine science and community involvement to rehabilitate forests, wetlands, and rivers while promoting agroforestry, renewable energy, and sustainable green enterprises. It is also expected to generate 10,000 green jobs and support youth-led environmental initiatives to strengthen Kenya’s ecological and economic resilience.
Mwaura further called on young people under the NYOTA Programme to complete the Entrepreneurship Aptitude Test (EAT) ahead of the national validation exercise on October 24, 2025. “Youth can access the test by dialing 100525*1#, then sending the word NYOTA to 40270 and following the prompts,” he said.
He explained that the test will help assess business readiness among participants and guide the government in offering targeted financial and training support through the NYOTA initiative.
Concluding his address, Mwaura reaffirmed the government’s commitment to upholding the rule of law, protecting citizens, and advancing economic transformation through the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and Vision 2030.
