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Nairobi, September 10, 2008

President Kibaki expands National Economic and Social Council

President Mwai Kibaki has today expanded the National Economic and Social Council by appointing 12 cabinet ministers of lead ministries as well as the Prime Minister and his two deputies.

Other members of the Council are drawn from the private sector, government institutions, registered professional bodies, labour organizations and international experts.

Appointed into the expanded Council are the Prime Minister, Rt Hon Raila Odinga, Deputy Prime Ministers, Uhuru Kenyatta and Musalia Mudavadi, Agricuture Minister William Ruto, Environment and Mineral Resources, John Michuki and Energy Minister, Kiraitu Murungi.

Others are Information and Communication Minister, Samuel Poghisio, the Minister for Roads, Chris Obure, Transport Minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere, Minister for Industrialization, Henry Kosgey and the Minister for Nairobi Metropolitan, Mutula Kilonzo.

Also appointed into the Council was Planning and National Development Minister, Wycliffe Oparanya, Higher Education Minister, Dr Sally Kosgey, Minister for Justice and National Cohesion, Martha Karua and Public Health Minister, Beth Mugo as well as the Attorney General, Amos Wako.

The International experts who were appointed into Council are Engineer Lee Yee Cheong of Malaysia, Dr Chung Kunmo of South Korea, Prof Hiroyuki Hino of Japan and Dr Victor Koh of Singapore.

The high level advisory body to the Government of Kenya draws members from an array of vital sectors who possess diverse experiences, knowledge and skills from industry, academia, civil society and the Government.

The Council is mandated to advise the Government on coordinated policies geared towards accelerated economic growth, social equity, employment creation and reducing poverty and inequality.

NESC is also authorized to give advice to the private sector and civil society as well as avail professional opinion on development issues from time to time as may be requested.

Its composition makes the council enjoy special links with a range of stakeholders that include line ministries, development partners, the private sector, media research institutions, professional groups and the entire general public.

NESC evaluates Government policies to gauge their effectiveness in achieving economic and social transformation while at the same time availing a critical forum to seek the input of diverse stakeholders into policy recommendations while also creating partnership and dialogue by engaging players from all sectors.

The high level advisory body also mobilizes knowledge and technical resources from relevant knowledge networks such as research and education institutions.

Since 2005 the Council has advised the Government on various policy measures targeting accelerated pace of national development that culminated in the conceptualization and development of the Vision 2030.

Among the specific tasks that the Council is supposed to undertake include the creation of a forum in which the Government, private sector and labour unions can identify and recommend to the government for implementation.

It also has the task of developing and recommending to the cabinet policies that will promote social equity, economic growth, create employment, reduce poverty and inequality in the country.

The Council has a duty also to gather, analyze and compile information on economic development trends and submit the information to the Cabinet for recommendations while at the same time evaluating if various programmes contribute to the achievement of Government policy objectives.

President Kibaki chairs the Council which he established as a vehicle for propelling the country into the ranks of an emerging and fast-developing nations within the shortest time possible.

The Council members meet at least four times a year.