First Lady Rachel Ruto has called for deeper partnerships, transparency, and alignment among government, the private sector, and communities to drive sustainable and inclusive development.
Speaking during the launch of the Public Benefits Organization (PBO) Sector Report 2024/2025 in Nairobi on Monday, she emphasized that collaboration remains central to achieving lasting impact, noting that development cannot be delivered in isolation.
“Sustainable development is not achieved in silos… it is achieved when government, PBOs, private sector and communities move in alignment,” she said, urging stakeholders to treat partnerships “not as an option, but as a necessity.”
The First Lady highlighted the often unseen work of PBOs across the country, describing them as critical actors operating “in remote villages, in informal settlements, in classrooms, in clinics… restoring dignity” and reaching underserved communities.
She stressed that the implementation of the PBO Act provides a foundation for trust, accountability, and credibility within the sector.
“Where there is clarity, there is confidence… and where there is collaboration, there is care,” she noted.
Rachel Ruto further called for stronger coordination and accountability mechanisms to ensure impact is both measurable and inclusive.
“How do we deepen collaboration? How do we scale what works? How do we ensure that no community is left behind?” she posed.
She warned that the integrity of the sector must be safeguarded through transparency and compliance, adding that regulation should be viewed as an enabler rather than a barrier.
“The strength of the PBO space depends on transparency, compliance and the shared responsibility to protect it,” she said.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen who also attended the launch echoed similar sentiments, urging PBOs to assert their role as key contributors to the economy.
He noted that the sector injects over Sh200 billion annually and supports more than 67,000 jobs across the country.
“You are as serious stakeholders in government as the rest of us… you must occupy your space,” Murkomen said, encouraging organizations to engage government structures from the grassroots level.
He emphasized the importance of compliance, transparency, and improved coordination, while also calling for increased local funding to reduce overreliance on foreign support.
“We need to have a sector that is trusted by private sector… and attract funding from our own citizens,” he said.
Murkomen also revealed plans to digitize the sector to enhance transparency and service delivery, noting that discussions with the Treasury were underway to support the initiative.
Both leaders underscored that the future of Kenya’s development depends on strong, accountable partnerships, with Rachel Ruto rallying stakeholders to ensure that the “new dawn” for the PBO sector translates into real, measurable change for communities across the country
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