In a move that has sent ripples through Kenya’s political landscape, National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has officially thrown his hat into the 2032 presidential ring. The declaration, made during a public engagement in his Suba South backyard on Sunday, February 8, marks a significant shift in the post-Raila Odinga political alignment, signaling Mbadi’s long-term ambitions while reaffirming his current loyalty to the “broad-based” government.
Mbadi, a veteran politician and former ODM Chairman, was categorical that his sights are set on the transition following President William Ruto’s expected second term. By explicitly ruling out a challenge in the 2027 General Election, the Treasury boss appears to be positioning himself as a reliable lieutenant to the President while simultaneously laying the groundwork for his own future succession.
“We are committed to working with President Ruto through 2027 and beyond,” Mbadi stated. “When 2032 comes, some of us are ready to take the mantle and lead this nation. For those eyeing 2027, the field is open, but personally, my focus and readiness are for 2032.”
The Joho-Mbadi Axis
Mbadi’s announcement makes him the second high-profile Cabinet Secretary from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) wing of the government to declare interest in the 2032 seat. He joins Mining CS Hassan Joho, who made a similar declaration in July 2025. This emerging trend suggests a coordinated strategy among the ODM luminaries currently serving in the Cabinet to consolidate their bases while remaining anchored within the government’s framework.ODM House on Fire: The Sifuna Must Go Campaign
While Mbadi was looking toward the future, he also turned his guns on the current internal friction within ODM. In a scathing attack, the Treasury CS called for the immediate expulsion of Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna from his role as the party’s Secretary General. Mbadi accused Sifuna of being “conflicted” and allegedly “selling the agenda of outsiders,” a reference to the Senator’s vocal opposition to the ODM-UDA partnership.Mbadi dismissed Sifuna’s influence within the party’s administrative structure, revealing that the party’s legal instruments are no longer under the Secretary General’s sole custody.
“Let no one be fooled that the SG holds the party’s keys. We moved those responsibilities to trustees long ago. Sifuna doesn’t even know where the ODM registration certificate is kept,” Mbadi claimed, urging the party’s Central Management Committee to act swiftly to prevent further cracks.
The “Linda Wananchi” Rift
The fallout highlights a deepening divide between the “broad-based” proponents and the “Linda Wananchi” faction, which includes Sifuna, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, and Siaya Governor James Orengo. While this group has been traversing the country to maintain an opposition stance, Mbadi insists that ODM remains solid under the leadership of Oburu Oginga, echoing the spirit of the party’s founding leader, Raila Odinga.
As the 2027 polls draw closer, Mbadi’s dual strategy of securing Ruto’s flank while eyeing the 2032 prize sets the stage for a complex political chess game. For the people of Nyanza and the wider ODM fraternity, the question remains: can the party survive this internal tug-of-war between government insiders and the defiant “rebels”?
