National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi is under fire after skipping a scheduled appearance before the Senate on May 7, 2025. The CS’s absence has sparked strong criticism from Senate leadership, with several lawmakers accusing him of neglecting his duties and undermining the legislative process.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, who also serves as the Senate Deputy Minority Whip, voiced his frustration, claiming that Mbadi’s excuse for missing the session was inadequate. Mbadi had informed Senate Speaker Amason Kingi in the morning that he would be unable to attend due to prior commitments. However, Sifuna expressed disbelief, citing that Mbadi was seen appearing on Citizen TV just before the Inter Milan versus Barcelona football match, suggesting the CS had time for media engagements but not for the Senate.
Sifuna emphasized that Cabinet Secretaries must be held accountable to Parliament and that such behavior undermines the work of the legislature. “Cabinet Secretaries must notify the House in good time if they are unable to appear. Writing on the same day is absolute contempt and must be called out,” Sifuna stated. He further asserted that, as long as he remains Senator for Nairobi, he would not defend any CS who disrespects the Senate, regardless of their political affiliation.
Senate Majority Whip Boni Khalwale also joined the criticism, pointing out that Mbadi had similarly missed a Senate Finance and Budget Committee meeting the previous day. Khalwale noted that while Mbadi had cited a Cabinet meeting as the reason for his absence, he was later seen attending a political rally. The Senator warned that failure to hold ministers accountable would result in a repeat of the inefficiencies seen during the Grand Coalition government.
The incident has raised concerns about the relationship between the executive and the legislature, with MPs calling for greater transparency and responsibility from the Cabinet. The Senate’s ability to check and balance the government’s actions could be undermined if ministers continue to disregard parliamentary obligations.
