President William Ruto has today assented to three significant pieces of legislation aimed at revitalising key sectors of the economy and improving service delivery to Kenyans.
The Coffee (Amendment) Bill seeks to transform the coffee industry by addressing long-standing challenges that have kept farmer earnings low despite Kenya’s reputation for producing some of the world’s finest Arabica coffee. The reforms introduce stricter oversight of cooperatives and marketing agents, limit the number of intermediaries in the value chain and mandate direct payments to farmers within shorter timelines after sales. New provisions also promote value addition through incentives for local roasting, packaging and branding, with the goal of capturing more revenue within the country rather than exporting raw beans at low prices.
During the signing ceremony at State House, the President highlighted the importance of the changes for smallholder farmers who form the backbone of the sector. “For too long coffee farmers have been exploited by middlemen and received a fraction of the true value of their crop,” Ruto said. “This bill puts farmers first by cutting unnecessary layers, ensuring transparency in pricing and encouraging processing here at home. When farmers earn more, entire communities benefit—schools are built, health centres are equipped and children stay in class longer.”
The second bill, the Meteorology Bill, establishes a comprehensive modern regulatory framework for weather and climate services in Kenya. It strengthens the mandate of the Kenya Meteorological Department to collect, analyse and disseminate accurate, timely weather and climate information. The law creates clearer governance structures, enhances data-sharing protocols with government agencies, private sector and international partners, and improves early-warning systems for floods, droughts, heatwaves and other extreme weather events linked to climate change.
Ruto described the legislation as vital for disaster risk reduction and food security. “Reliable weather information saves lives and livelihoods,” he stated. “Whether it is a farmer deciding when to plant, a disaster manager preparing for floods or an airline planning flights, everyone depends on accurate forecasts. This bill equips our meteorological service to meet those needs in a changing climate.”
The Miscellaneous Fees and Levies (Amendment) Act creates the Railway Levy Development Fund and establishes a dedicated board to manage it. The fund will pool resources collected through the existing Railway Development Levy—currently 1.5 percent on the customs value of imported goods—and channel them exclusively toward the construction, expansion, rehabilitation and maintenance of the standard-gauge and metre-gauge railway networks. The amendment expands the allowable uses of the levy beyond debt servicing to include new rail corridors, rolling stock acquisition, signalling upgrades and station modernisation.
The signing comes days after the Kenya Pipeline Company’s successful IPO raised Sh106.3 billion, part of which is earmarked as seed capital for infrastructure financing vehicles. Ruto linked the two developments, saying they reflect a shift toward self-financing critical projects. “We are moving away from heavy external borrowing to domestic resource mobilisation,” he said. “The Railway Levy Development Fund ensures that money paid by importers and consumers stays in Kenya and builds the rail network our economy desperately needs.”
The three bills were passed by the National Assembly and Senate after extensive public participation and committee scrutiny. Their assent completes the legislative process, and subsidiary regulations are now being prepared by the responsible ministries to operationalise the reforms.
Stakeholders in the coffee sector welcomed the changes but urged swift enforcement. A representative of the Kenya Planters Cooperative Union said: “The proof will be in implementation. Farmers need to see direct payments and reduced deductions on their bank statements. We will monitor closely to ensure the law delivers what it promises.”
Climate experts and disaster management agencies praised the Meteorology Bill for strengthening early-warning systems at a time when extreme weather events are becoming more frequent. “Timely, localised forecasts can save lives and reduce economic losses,” said one meteorologist. “The new framework gives Met Department the mandate and resources to deliver.”
The railway fund was hailed by transport economists as a pragmatic move to complete the SGR network and modernise older lines without adding to the external debt burden. “Using levy revenue to build rail infrastructure is smart,” one analyst commented. “It creates a virtuous cycle—better rail lowers transport costs, boosts trade and generates more revenue for the fund.”
President Ruto concluded the signing ceremony by calling on all stakeholders to support full implementation. “These laws are not paper victories,” he said. “They are tools to improve lives. Farmers must earn more from coffee, Kenyans must receive better weather services, and our railway must expand to connect our people and markets. That is the promise we are fulfilling today.”
The three Acts will be published in the Kenya Gazette in the coming days and will take effect on dates appointed by the responsible Cabinet Secretaries.
