Rachel Ruto lauds PBOs as pillars of Kenya’s development agenda
First Lady Rachel Ruto has lauded the growing partnership between the government and Public Benefit Organisations (PBOs), describing them as essential players in Kenya’s development agenda and key contributors to improving livelihoods across the country.
Speaking during the opening of the Public Benefit Organisations Week 2026 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), she said PBOs have evolved from peripheral actors into central pillars of the national development ecosystem.
Rachel Ruto noted that President William Ruto’s administration has been instrumental in streamlining the sector, which now supports thousands of jobs and continues to expand its impact across various communities.
“It was under his leadership that the implementation of the Public Benefit Organizations Act, 2013 was actualized on May 14, 2024—fulfilling a promise not just in policy, but in principle: that those who serve the public good must be enabled, protected, and empowered,” she said.
She emphasised that meaningful development requires collaboration between government, civil society, and other stakeholders, noting that no single actor can drive transformation alone.
“They are often the first to respond, the last to leave, and the bridge between policy and people. PBOs do not replace government; they reinforce it. They do not compete with communities; they empower them,” she added.
The First Lady further highlighted the often-unseen work of PBOs, saying much of their impact takes place in marginalized and underserved areas.
“It happens in remote villages, informal settlements, classrooms, and clinics—often far from the spotlight. It is the work of restoring dignity, reaching the unreached, and standing in the gap where systems are still catching up,” she said.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen also lauded the sector, noting that it is frequently misunderstood and wrongly associated with political activism and governance disputes.
He clarified that its core mandate is service delivery, particularly in remote and vulnerable communities.
Murkomen revealed that the sector attracts significant investment, stating that it mobilised about Sh 241 billion in a single financial year, with much of the work focused on improving the lives of women and children.
Public Benefit Organisations Regulatory Authority (PBORA) Chairperson Mwambu Mabonga reaffirmed the regulator’s commitment to strengthening the sector and enhancing its contribution to national development, while urging Kenyans to support those in need within their communities.
PBORA Director General Dr. Laxmana Peter Kiptoo noted that the Authority is enhancing oversight mechanisms to prevent Kenya from being used as a conduit for terrorism financing or illicit financial flows. He added that 76 percent of sector funding currently comes from Europe and North America, calling for increased local participation from private sector and banking institutions.
Kiptoo further said Kenya is undergoing a transition from the NGO framework to the PBO system following the full implementation of the Public Benefit Organizations Act and its accompanying regulations.
