NAIROBI, July 29, 2025 – Kenya’s Senate Committee on Labour and Social Welfare has issued a stern ultimatum to Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, threatening “action” after he repeatedly ignored summonses to address critical financial issues.
The committee expressed outrage today after CS Mbadi failed to appear for a scheduled Tuesday session intended to discuss long-delayed payments, including unpaid pensions for retired Kenya Railways and KEMRI staff, and a Ksh 200,000 honorarium for former councillors. Instead, Mbadi sent Public Investments Principal Secretary Cyrell Wagunda Odede to represent him.
The committee unanimously rejected Odede’s representation and sent him away. West Pokot Senator Julius Murgor, the committee chair, voiced profound disappointment: “We now understand that this will continue to drag because decisions are made at the Cabinet level. The longer it delays, the more we’re seen as non-performers.”
Repeated Offender: A Pattern of Disregard
This marks the latest instance in a troubling pattern of CS Mbadi avoiding parliamentary scrutiny. The committee explicitly noted this is “not the first time the CS has landed in trouble with a Senate or a National Assembly committee for skipping a summons.”
- March Incident: Earlier this year, the Senate Committee on Finance and Budget, chaired by Mandera Senator Ali Roba, sharply criticized Mbadi for skipping a crucial meeting on the 2025/26 Budget Policy Statement. Senator Roba had expressed concern that the former lawmaker had “not carried forward the mentality of the National Assembly into the running of the Ministry.”
- Senator Frustration: Kitui Senator Enock Wambua highlighted the irony, stating, “Appearing before Parliament is not a favour. The CS understands this better than most,” referencing Mbadi’s past role as a Member of Parliament. Nominated Senator Crystal Asige termed his latest absence “disappointing and unacceptable.”
Ultimatum Issued
The committee has now formally summoned CS Mbadi to appear before them personally at their next meeting scheduled for Monday, August 4th. They delivered a clear warning: failure to appear this time will “not be tolerated,” implying undisclosed consequences will follow.
The standoff comes amidst existing frustrations with the Treasury’s responsiveness. Senator Roba, referencing other committee work, noted: “We have had a good working relationship with the Ministry… Unfortunately, we have not received a response from the National Treasury, which was supposed to be the last entity we engaged with.”
The pressure is now squarely on CS Mbadi to heed the August 4th summons or face unprecedented action from the Senate.
