By Mandere Onyinkwa
President William Ruto has assented to the Kenya National Council for Population and Development Bill, 2023, formally establishing the Kenya National Council for Population and Development (KNCPD) through an Act of Parliament.
The signing ceremony was held at State House, Nairobi, marking a major milestone in Kenya’s efforts to strengthen population and development planning, policy coordination and evidence-based decision-making.
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The event was attended by senior government officials, including National Treasury and Economic Planning Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi and Principal Secretary for the State Department for Economic Planning Dr Boniface Makokha, alongside other Principal Secretaries.
The newly enacted law provides a comprehensive legal framework for the Council to coordinate population and development programmes, advise the Government on emerging demographic issues and promote the integration of population dynamics into national and county development planning.
Welcoming the enactment, Acting Director General of the National Council for Population and Development (NCPD) Lucy Kimondo described the law as a landmark achievement for Kenya’s population and development agenda.
“This is a landmark moment for Kenya’s population and development agenda. The enactment of this law crowns years of effort towards re-establishing the Council on a firm legal foundation.”
Kimondo said operating under an Act of Parliament would strengthen the Council’s mandate and enhance its ability to serve different population groups while addressing their unique needs and development aspirations.
She added that the new legal framework would enable the Council to provide stronger policy guidance on population matters, coordinate the implementation of population and development programmes and advise both national and county governments on emerging demographic trends and their implications for sustainable development.
Under the Act, the Kenya National Council for Population and Development is established as a body corporate and designated as the national focal point for population and development matters.
Its functions include conducting research and analysis on population issues, developing and disseminating population policies and plans, coordinating interventions by stakeholders, mobilising partnerships and setting standards for population programmes across the country.
The legislation is also expected to strengthen the integration of population dynamics into planning and budgeting processes at both national and county levels.
The move aligns Kenya with regional and international practice, where population coordinating institutions are established through legislation to enable governments to better respond to demographic opportunities and challenges.
The Council is expected to play a central role in helping the Government understand and respond to changing population trends, including their implications for economic growth, public services and development planning.
