NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 16 – A reform lobby group has proposed scrapping the National Treasury and replacing it with a new central economic planning body through a constitutional amendment aimed at reshaping how Kenya coordinates national development and public finances.
The proposal by civic movement Kuna Dawa is anchored on Constitution of Kenya 2010 Article 257, which allows citizens to initiate constitutional changes through a popular initiative.
At the centre of the proposal is the creation of a National Economic Council (NEC) to take over key roles currently performed by the Treasury, including economic policy coordination and national development planning.
“The Bill establishes a National Economic Council to coordinate intergovernmental economic policy and national development planning,” said Kuna Dawa Secretary Jane Mwangi.
The NEC, chaired by the President, would include the Deputy President, the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, 16 Executive Economic Block Coordinators, the Principal Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney General.
Under the proposal, the council would administer a restructured National Development Budget allocating 20 percent to flagship national projects and 80 percent to regional development through County Economic Blocks.
The reform blueprint also introduces County Economic Blocks, each comprising three neighboring counties, to drive regional trade, infrastructure and joint investment initiatives.
Each block would elect an Executive Economic Block Coordinator tasked with convening governors and deputy governors, representing the region in national economic discussions and overseeing implementation of cross-county projects.
The amendment also proposes replacing the Constituency Development Fund with a Ward Development Fund, which would channel public resources directly to wards in what it contends is designed to push development closer to grassroots communities.
According to the proponents, the reforms are intended to strengthen institutional oversight, improve economic coordination between national and county governments and deepen devolution by restructuring how development resources are allocated and managed.
The lobby says it will from next month begging the process of the collection of at least one million signatures from registered voters before it can proceed through the constitutional review process and be considered by county assemblies and Parliament according to the constitution.
