First Lady Rachel Ruto speaks during the launch of the 2026 Public Benefit Organizations (PBO) week in Nairobi on April 13, 2026./HANDOUT

First Lady Rachel Ruto on Monday set the tone for a renewed development push after launching the 2026 Public Benefit Organizations (PBO) Week in Nairobi, calling for stronger collaboration between government, civil society and the private sector.

First Lady Rachel Ruto with other dignitaries during the launch of the 2026 Public Benefit Organizations (PBO) week in Nairobi on April 13, 2026./HANDOUT
In a speech that highlighted the often unseen work of charitable organisations, the First Lady painted a picture of quiet impact happening across the country, far from the public eye.

First Lady Rachel Ruto  with Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen and other dignitaries during the launch of the 2026 Public Benefit Organizations (PBO) week in Nairobi on April 13, 2026./HANDOUT
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“There is a quiet kind of work that does not always make headlines. It happens in remote villages, in informal settlements, in classrooms, in clinics, often far from the spotlight,” she said.
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“It is the work of restoring dignity, of reaching the unreached, of standing in the gap where systems are still catching up. And more often than not, it is the work of PBOs.”

The launch also marked the unveiling of the PBO Regulations, 2026 and the PBO Sector Report 2024/2025, underscoring the government’s focus on strengthening the sector’s role in national development.

The First Lady said the Kenya Kwanza administration values partnerships that uplift communities and accelerate progress, noting that the implementation of the PBO Act, 2013, was a key milestone in supporting organisations serving the public good.

“Those who serve the public good must be enabled, protected, and empowered,” she said.

She described PBOs as central players in development, bridging the gap between policy and the people, and often stepping in where systems fall short.

“PBOs are not peripheral actors in development. They are central partners. They are often the first to respond, the last to leave, and the bridge between policy and people,” she said.

The First Lady emphasised that meaningful and sustainable development can only be achieved through alignment among all stakeholders.

“As we advance the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, we must recognize that sustainable development is not achieved in silos,” she said.

Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen speaks during the launch of the 2026 Public Benefit Organizations (PBO) week in Nairobi on April 13, 2026./HANDOUT
Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen speaks during the launch of the 2026 Public Benefit Organizations (PBO) week in Nairobi on April 13, 2026./HANDOUT
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen echoed the call for collaboration, directing the PBO Regulatory Authority to support organisations in complying with the new legal framework.

“These Regulations are facilitative; they should not be used to punish PBOs,” he said.

Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen during the launch of the 2026 Public Benefit Organizations (PBO) week in Nairobi on April 13, 2026./HANDOUT

PBO Regulatory Authority Director General Laxmana Kiptoo said the sector received Sh246.7 billion in the 2024/2025 financial year, highlighting its growing footprint in driving development projects.

As PBO Week gets underway, leaders say the focus is not just on policy and funding but on real lives transformed—a reminder that behind every programme is a story of hope, dignity, and change.