William Ruto has signed three major pieces of legislation into law during a ceremony at State House Nairobi, marking significant reforms in Kenya’s coffee industry, meteorological services and railway infrastructure financing.
The new laws include:
- Coffee Act 2023 (Mediated Version)
- Meteorology Act 2023
- Miscellaneous Fees and Levies (Amendment) Act 2026
The legislations aim to strengthen sector governance, improve regulation and mobilise funding for strategic national infrastructure.
Coffee Sector Reorganised Under New Law
The newly enacted Coffee Act 2023 introduces major reforms in the governance and management of Kenya’s coffee industry.
Under the new law, regulatory and commercial functions previously handled by the Agriculture and Food Authority will be transferred to the Coffee Board of Kenya.
The board will now be responsible for regulating and promoting the development of the coffee sector.
Its key functions include:
- Processing licence and permit applications
- Registering coffee dealers
- Implementing sector strategies and policies
- Promoting Kenyan coffee in local and international markets
- Supporting the use of the Kenya Coffee Mark of Origin
The board will also collect industry data, conduct market research and develop sector standards in collaboration with the Kenya Bureau of Standards.
In addition, the law gives the board powers to promote regional coffee appellations, regulate coffee marketing and trading, coordinate participation in international coffee forums and encourage digital marketing to expand global markets.
New Coffee Research Institute Established
The Act also restructures research in the coffee sector.
Research functions currently handled by the Coffee Research Institute will be transferred to a newly established Coffee Research and Training Institute.
The institute will focus on advancing research and training within the coffee industry, including:
- Development of improved coffee varieties
- Research on crop diseases
- Promotion of sustainable coffee production
- Adoption of modern farming technologies
The institute will be managed by a council chaired by a representative appointed by the relevant Cabinet Secretary.
Railway Development Levy Expanded
Meanwhile, the Miscellaneous Fees and Levies (Amendment) Act 2026 expands the scope of the Railway Development Levy.
Previously associated largely with financing the Standard Gauge Railway, the levy will now support a broader range of railway infrastructure projects across Kenya.
The law establishes a Railway Development Levy Fund where all proceeds from the levy will be deposited.
The fund will be used to finance:
- Construction of new railway infrastructure
- Rehabilitation of existing rail systems
- Safety and economic regulation of railway infrastructure
A Railway Development Fund Board will oversee the administration and management of the fund, including approving programmes, budgets and strategic priorities.
Rehabilitation projects financed through the fund will require approval from both the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and the Transport Cabinet Secretary.
Meteorology Act Establishes New Authority
The Meteorology Act 2023 creates a new regulatory framework for meteorological services in Kenya.
The law establishes the Kenya Meteorological Service Authority, which will act as the principal technical adviser to national and county governments on weather and climate-related matters.
The authority will be responsible for:
- Processing and analysing meteorological data
- Preparing weather forecasts
- Issuing warnings and advisories for disaster risk reduction
- Developing meteorology training programmes
It will also register weather stations and coordinate research and development in meteorology.
The law further establishes the Meteorology Training and Research Directorate, which will succeed the Institute for Meteorological Training and Research and operate as a regional training centre for the World Meteorological Organization.
Supporting International Aviation and Climate Standards
The new law also ensures that Kenya complies with international obligations under the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation and standards set by the **Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO.
The authority will also have powers to identify locations for meteorological observation stations and enter agreements with landowners to install the necessary infrastructure.
Additionally, the law provides intellectual property protection for meteorological data, innovations and advisory services developed by the authority.
