A team of experts has urged the Kenyan government to restore the National Economic and Social Council to strengthen long-term development planning. The recommendation appears in a new report reviewing Vision 2030 and outlining future priorities. The council was discontinued after 2013.
The experts, authors of the Developing a New Vision for Kenya report, argue that reviving the council is essential for coordinating national priorities. They say it would ensure continuity in development plans across different political administrations.
The National Economic and Social Council was originally set up to advise the government with input from the private sector, academia and civil society. It played a key role in creating Vision 2030, launched in 2008.
The report notes that the council's discontinuation weakened oversight of flagship projects. Experts recommend restoring it with representatives from national and county governments to guide the next development agenda.
They also call for measures to shield the body from short-term political pressures so it can monitor progress independently.