Last Updated: 25 July 2025
1. Several bills made their way through Parliament during the second quarter of 2025, including the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating of Terrorism Financing Laws (Amendment) Bill, which was signed into law on June 17. The Bill amended several laws, including the Public Benefit Organisations (PBO) Act. Other bills that have made headway include the Public Fundraising Bill and the County Civic Education Bill.
2. On May 5, 2025, Kenya’s High Court also delivered a ruling in a petition In the matter of the Public Benefits Organizations (PBO) Act. The ruling called for relief such that no NGO that was registered under the repealed NGO Coordination Act will be required to apply again for registration under the PBO Act for it to be recognized as a PBO. On May 14, 2025, the Public Benefit Organisations Regulatory Authority (PBORA) sought and received orders from the High Court to stay the execution of the orders granted in the PBO Act petition while appeals are pending. The matter will be discussed in court on October 16, 2025 to confirm the stay’s status. Please see the News Items section below in this report for additional details.
3. In June and July 2025, a series of public participation forums will be held across the country to gather feedback on the Public Benefit Organisations (PBO) Regulations. After receiving public input, a revised draft will be presented to the Committee for Delegated Legislation in the National Assembly. Once the Regulations are approved by Parliament and published in the Gazette, the PBO Act will be fully implemented. It has been over 12 years since this law was passed, which aims to establish an enabling framework for the registration and operation of PBOs. Please see the Pending Legislative / Regulatory Initiatives section below in this report for additional details.