The State of the Nation Address highlighted significant progress in legislative reform, particularly in modernising the security and financial integrity of the nation. The government is focused on establishing robust frameworks to protect citizens and attract investment. The Cybersecurity Bill was passed into law during the July sitting of Parliament, establishing an institutional framework and the National Cybersecurity Commission to ensure a “safe and secure cyber environment” and protect critical national information infrastructure. This push for modernisation extends to public service processes, with the provision of e-Procurement services being advanced, which is described as a “bold move that will rid our procurement of corruption, raise the levels of transparency, strengthen and standardise procurement controls.” Furthermore, the government is embarking on an ambitious journey to launch a secure, ultramodern platform for all government services within six months, backed by improved backbone infrastructure.
On the financial front, to combat growing money laundering risks and the misuse of emerging financial technologies, Parliament passed the Virtual Assets Act, 2025, which directly addresses the management and mitigation of risks associated with new business practices. Furthermore, the Companies (Amendment) Act 2025 and the Trust Property Control (Amendment) Act 2025 were passed to align national legislation with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on anti-money laundering recommendations. The judiciary is also undergoing major structural reform, with the President confirming the gazetting of the Constitutional Amendment Bill, which amends Chapter Six of the Constitution and will require a referendum.
The Judicial Service Commission appointed judges to both the High Court and the Court of Appeal, and the establishment of a dedicated Criminal Court Division is planned to allow for specialisation, leading to faster trials. Legal access is being expanded through the national rollout of Criminal Legal Aid Services, following the successful conclusion of a pilot study in 2024/25.
