Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has come out strongly in defense of President William Ruto’s administration, arguing that Kenya’s current economic challenges stem from the tenure of former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Speaking in Suna West on Sunday, Mbadi said those criticizing the Kenya Kwanza government should instead reflect on the economic decisions and shortcomings of the previous administration. He insisted that the country is on a better path under Ruto, citing improvements in funding and resource distribution.
“What is it that is going so bad now that didn’t happen during Uhuru Kenyatta’s tenure?” Mbadi questioned, dismissing ongoing criticism as baseless and politically motivated. According to him, Kenya Kwanza has remained focused on improving the economy despite the inherited debt burden and fiscal mismanagement.
The CS highlighted key achievements of the current regime, particularly in the agriculture sector. He noted that sectors such as tea and coffee have not raised complaints about underfunding, indicating that the government has adequately supported them. He took issue with leaders from Central Kenya who have been vocal in criticizing the government, accusing them of politicizing development matters despite increased government investment in their regions.
Mbadi further pointed out that, for the first time in Kenya’s history, counties have received full disbursements for the financial year 2024/2025. He said the government has also settled all outstanding arrears owed to counties from previous years.
“In the entire Uhuru presidency, we had not been transferring money to counties consistently. This year we released all the allocations, including arrears carried forward from 2023/24,” he said.
Additionally, Mbadi revealed that all constituencies have received full allocations of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) for the current financial year a move he claims had not been achieved for nearly a decade.
The CS reiterated that these actions reflect the Kenya Kwanza administration’s commitment to equitable development and fiscal responsibility. He urged political leaders to acknowledge progress rather than dwell on past grievances.
