Why the President needs professional economic advisors

President William Ruto’s economic advisor David Ndii and national security advisor Monicah Juma during a Cabinet meeting at State House, Nairobi. [File, Standard]

The court decision declaring presidential advisors unconstitutional ignited a spirited debate on the utility of presidential advisors. In support of the decision, a number of commentators advanced two arguments.

First, they argued that the president does not need special advisors, since the public already pays several qualified public servants in the ministries.