Treasury CS Mbadi: No legal cap on number of presidential advisors

National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has defended President William Ruto’s decision to appoint several advisors, saying there is no legal restriction on how many he can hire.

Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV on Tuesday, Mbadi said the Constitution only limits the number of Cabinet Secretaries, not advisors, and that the president is fully within his rights.

Mbadi explained that while each Cabinet Secretary is now restricted to having just one advisor following a cost-cutting directive, this does not apply to the presidency.

“The law allows the president to hire advisors. There is no provision regarding the number. The people of Kenya didn’t impose a limit. What they did was set a maximum number of Cabinet Secretaries,” Mbadi stated.

According to him, the president holds complete freedom in choosing how many advisors he wants, and this cannot be interfered with by the Treasury or any other ministry.

“I don’t have the authority to hire advisors for the president, and I don’t want us to go beyond my pay grade,” Mbadi said.

He was responding to concerns sparked by a past circular issued by former Treasury CS Njuguna Ndung’u, which was aimed at cutting down the number of advisors in government. Mbadi clarified that although the directive was followed across ministries, it did not affect the Office of the President.

“That directive was implemented. But did it affect the presidency? No, it didn’t,” he said.

“A Cabinet Secretary for the Treasury cannot issue a circular that binds the president. Even when it concerns a government position, you can’t do that. The only circular that binds the entire government, including the Office of the President, must come from the Office of the President itself,” Mbadi added.

He said that all ministries have since reduced the number of their advisors by at least half. “All advisors were cut by at least 50 per cent. As of today, Sam, I only have one advisor. My predecessor had two,” he said.

Despite these changes in other departments, the number of advisors at State House has continued to rise. Recent appointments have reignited criticism over what some consider a bloated advisory team.

Among the new additions is Prof. Makau Mutua, a known ally of opposition leader Raila Odinga. He joins Jaoko Oburu, who was recently named the President’s Special Advisor on Economic Empowerment and Sustainable Livelihoods. Jaoko is the son of Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga.

This trend has raised eyebrows, especially in light of the president’s pledge made on July 5, 2024, during a wave of public protests, to reduce the cost of government by halving the number of advisors.

“The number of advisors in government shall be reduced by 50 within the public service with immediate effect,” President Ruto said at the time.

However, recent figures suggest otherwise. The number of presidential advisors has jumped from around seven to nearly 17 in less than a year. These appointments have been made under what officials describe as a broad-based exchange programme.

Other Topics To Read

• National
• Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi
• senate summons
• National Security Advisor Monica Juma
• Prof Makau Mutua
• National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi
• Presidential advisors
• Treasury CS Mbadi: No legal cap on number of presidential advisors
• Headlines

The current team of presidential advisors includes Prof. Abdi Guliye, Dominic Menjo, Nancy Laiboni, Henry Kinyua, Steven Otieno, David Ndii, Augustine Cheruiyot, Moses Kuria, Mohamed Hassan, Prof. Adams Oloo, Joe Ager, Dr. Silverstone Okumu, Prof. Edward Kisiangani, Harriette Chiggai, and Kennedy Ogeto.

Senate slams Mbadi

Meanwhile, the Senate has criticised Mbadi for failing to attend a crucial session where he was expected to address critical financial questions.

Speaker Amason Kingi confirmed that a letter from the Treasury CS, dated May 6, 2025, was received on Wednesday morning, informing the Senate that he would not attend due to other official engagements.

“For the purpose of responding to about seven questions, we were expecting the CS Treasury and the CS Education. However, this morning, we received a letter from the CS Treasury stating that he would not be able to attend this session due to other official engagements,” said Senate Speaker Amason Kingi.

The session, which was meant to address questions from Senators Enoch Wambura of Kirinyaga and Tom Ojienda of Kisumu, was disrupted due to Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi’s absence.

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi explained that the questions could not proceed as planned because of Mbadi’s failure to attend. However, Kingi assured the Senate that the Cabinet Secretary for Education, who was present, would continue with the session as scheduled.

Senator Edwin Sifuna expressed his strong disapproval over Mbadi’s absence, questioning the priorities of a Cabinet Secretary who could appear on Citizen TV the previous evening but had no time for Parliament.

He criticised the CS’s actions as part of a larger pattern of executive disregard for parliamentary oversight.

"Honourable Speaker, I have said on this floor, and I will say it again, as a Senate, as a Parliament, it is our collective responsibility, regardless of our political parties, to oversee both the national and county governments,” stated Senator Sifuna.

Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale also expressed his frustration with Mbadi’s absence, pointing out that the Treasury CS had also missed a Senate Finance and Budget Committee meeting on Tuesday.

“I share the concern. As a member of the Senate Finance and Budget Committee, I witnessed the CS doing the same thing yesterday, stating he was at a Cabinet meeting. However, it’s clear he wasn’t at the Cabinet meeting, but rather at a rally,” Khalwale commented.

Khalwale stressed that Parliament must hold Cabinet Secretaries accountable for failing to attend Senate sessions.

Khalwale warned, "If this Parliament fails to act, what is happening in this so-called broad-based government will be no different from what we experienced during the Grand Coalition."

Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua criticised Mbadi for showing disrespect to the Senate, noting that it was highly disrespectful for a former Member of Parliament like Mbadi to send a letter at 9:00 am on the day of the session.

“If CS John Mbadi, a former Member of Parliament, can afford to write to you this morning at 9:00 am to say that he is not presenting himself at the opening of this House is the height of contempt for this House,” stated the Kitui Senator.