Why I'm fit for Treasury CS position - John Mbadi

On Saturday, Treasury Cabinet Secretary nominee John Mbadi highlighted his 15 years of experience with financial matters, asserting that his extensive background made him the ideal candidate for the position.

Speaking before the vetting panel, the nominee said that for the past 15 years in parliament, he has been a member of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, which is responsible for preparing the country's budget.

"This budget committee is constitutionally mandated to prepare budgets of this country. During this time, I interacted a lot with the Kenyan budget and the macro-economic policies, I can attest that I have interacted with the budget review outlook paper, which is prepared every year. I am comfortable with how to generate budget policy statements," Mbadi explained.

Currently, Mbadi serves as the Chair of the National Assembly Public Accounts Committee, which oversees the accountability of ministries, departments, and agencies.

With 28 years of experience in finance, leadership, and politics, Mbadi's career is marked by significant achievements.

He entered Parliament in 2007, representing Gwassi Constituency.

Later, he served as the MP for Suba South Constituency in the 12th Parliament and held the position of Leader of the Minority Party. 

ODM nominated MP John Mbadi greets President William Ruto at a past event in Homa Bay County. (Photo: PCS)

In September 2012, Mbadi was appointed Assistant Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, a role he held until the 2013 general elections.

In October 2022, Mbadi called on the National Assembly to reject the majority of President William Ruto's Cabinet picks, accusing them of incompetence. 

His educational journey began at Lingongo Primary School, followed by Kokuro Boys Secondary School.

He attended the University of Nairobi in 1992 and graduated in 1996 with a Bachelor of Commerce. In 2007, he obtained a Master of Business Administration.

From 2004 to 2008, Mbadi served as Finance Director for the Medair East Africa-South Sudan Programme.

Prior to this, he was a senior accountant at the University of Nairobi from 1999 to 2003. Between 2000 and 2002, he worked as an accountant at the University of Nairobi Enterprise Services (UNES) and served as an assistant accountant at the University of Nairobi from 1996 to 1999.

If approved by the committee, Mbadi will succeed Njuguna Ndung'u in the Treasury docket, becoming President William Ruto's second Treasury CS.