National Economic and Social Council in Kenya

President makes NESC appointments Written By:PPS , Posted: Wed, Sep 10, 2008
President Mwai Kibaki has Wednesday made the following appointments to the expanded National Economic and Social Council for a period of 3 years.
(a) The Prime Minister;
Rt Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga, EGH, MP
(b) The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade
Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta, EGH, MP
(c) The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Government: Hon.Musalia Mudavadi, EGH, MP
(d) The following Ministers:
Minister for Agriculture: Hon. William Samoei Arap Ruto, MP.
Minister for Environment and Mineral Resources and Acting Minister for Finance: Hon. John Michuki, EGH, MP
Minister for Energy: Hon. Kiraitu Murungi, EGH, MP
Minister for Information and Communication: Hon. Samuel Poghisio, M.P.
Minister for Roads: Hon.Chris Obure, MP (Acting)
Minister for Transport: Hon (Amb.) Chirau Ali Mwakare, EGH, MP
Minister for Industrialization: Hon. Henry Kiprono Kosgey, M.P
Minister for Nairobi Metropolitan Development: Hon. Mutula Kilonzo, EBS, SC, MP
Minister for Planning, National Development and Vision 2030: Hon. Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanyah, MP.
Minister for Higher Education, Science and Technology: Hon. Dr.Sally Jemng'etich Kosgei, EGH, MP
Minister for Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs: Hon. Martha W. Karua, EGH, MP
Minister for Public Health and Sanitation: Hon. Beth Wambui Mugo, M.P
(e) The Attorney General: Hon. S. Amos Wako, EGH,EBS,FCIArb, S.C. MP
(f) Local Experts:
Ayisi Makatiani (Investment Banker)
Lutaf R. Kassam (Chief Executive Officer IPS)
Michael Chege (Professor of Economics and Political Science)
Edward Akong'o Oyugi (Professor of Psychology)
(g) Members from Private Sector:
Jimnah Mbaru (Banker)
Salma Mazrui (Marketing Specialist)
Wilfred Murungi (Eng) (Industrialist)
(h) Registered Professional Bodies:
Raphael G. Mwai (Institutional Development Expert)
Jacqueline Wasonga Kitulu (Dr) Medical (Practitioner)
Baldip S. Rihal (Urban Development Consultant)
(i) Labour Unions: Samwel Muga K'Olale (Dr.) (Lecturer in Philosophy)
(j) Commission for Higher Education: Everett Maraka Standa (Prof) (Commission Secretary/
Chief Executive Officer)
(k) Farmers Associations: Michael Albert Allen Harries (Farmer)
(l) National Council for Science and Technology:
Shaukat Ali Abdulrazak (Prof.)(Executive Secretary National Council for Science and Technology)
(m) Private Health Care Providers:
Kanyenje K. Gakombe (Dr.) (Chief Executive of Metropolitan Hospital Ltd.)
(n) International Experts:
Lee Yee Cheong (Dato) (Engineer from Malaysia)
Chung Kunmo (Dr.) (Energy Expert from South Korea)
Hiroyuki Hino (Professor of Economics from Japan)
Victor Koh (Dr.) (Management Consultant from Singapore)
(o) The Permanent Secretary, Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of the Public Service, Office of the President : Amb. Francis K. Muthaura, EGH.
(p) The Governor, Central Bank of Kenya: Njuguna Ndung'u (Prof.)
The Ministers may be accompanied by their Permanent Secretaries during the meetings of the Council.
1. BACKGROUND OF NESC
NESC is a high level advisory body to the Government of Kenya comprised of persons with diverse experiences, knowledge and skills from Industry, Academia, Civil Society and Government.
The Members serve on honorary appointment and meet at least four times a year.
The Secretariat of the Council is headed by Mr. Julius Monzi Muia and its Headquarters is located in Nairobi, KICC 4th floor.
The National Economic and Social Council plays a strategic role in facilitating fostering policy dialogue on social and economic issues in the country.
For this reason, it enjoys special links with a range of stakeholders that include among others line ministries, Development Partners, the Private Sector, Media Research Institutions, professional groups, and indeed, the general public.
2. MANDATE
The NESC's primary mandate is to advise Government on coordinated policies aimed at promoting economic growth, social equity and employment creation, and at reducing poverty and inequality.
It is also mandated to offer advice, on request, to the private sector and civil society and to express professional opinion on development issues.
In carrying out its mandate, NESC appraises Government policies for their effectiveness in achieving economic and social transformation; provides a forum for partnership and dialogue for engaging diverse range of stakeholders, especially private and social sector players, for their input into policy recommendations; and mobilizes knowledge and technical resources from relevant knowledge networks, including research and education institutions.
Since its first meeting in January 2005, the Council has advised Government on a number of policy measures aimed at accelerating the pace of national development, with its flagship being the conceptualization, development and finalization of the Kenya Vision 2030 the embodiment of the long-term aspirations of the nation.
3. SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS:
The functions of NESC are to:
a. Create a forum in which the Government, Private Sector and labour unions can discuss and identify policy issues and recommend to the government implementation of such policies;
b. Gather, analyze and compile information on economic development and trends and submit such information to the Cabinet with appropriate recommendations;
c. Appraise the various programs and activities of the Government, including the investment programmes for economic development, for the purpose of determining the extent to which such programmes and activities contribute to the achievement of Government policy objectives;
d. Develop and recommend to the Cabinet coordinated policies that will promote social equity, economic growth, create employment and reduce poverty and inequality;
e. Give its opinion, suggestions and recommendations on any matter or question on which it may be consulted by the Government, the Private Sector or the Civil Society;
f. Improve the targeting of strategic objectives with a focus on the most critical social and economic needs especially in areas that have direct impact on strengthening the potential of the private sector to create employment opportunities and those that address poverty reduction;
g. Utilize the private sector and the civil society capacities and synergy through collaboration, engagement and networking in order to promote efficiency and effectiveness of economic planning process.
h. Liaise with existing research institutions, the universities and the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics in the performance of its functions.
President Mwai Kibaki is Chairman of the council that he established in his first term in office, as a vehicle for moving Kenya into the ranks of emerging and fast-developing countries within the shortest time possible.