Kenya Minute.
Tuesday, 22 September 2026
Kenya’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Tuesday, 22 September 2026
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Kenyan press · Person

John Mbadi

Also known as: National Treasury CS John Mbadi · Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi · Treasury CS John Mbadi · Mr John Mbadi · National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi · former ODM Chairman · Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi · CS John Mbadi · Hon John Mbadi · Mr. Mbadi · CS for Treasury John Mbadi

National Treasury Cabinet Secretary who defended the Safaricom-Vodacom transaction and faced legal challenge over rice import duty waiver powers.

2026-04-242026-09-22

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. June 2026
  2. The Standard

    of the dissenting vote also revealed a striking ethnic dimension, lending credence to the view that political expediency and populist sentiment, rather than policy considerations, were the principal drivers of the outcome.On a brighter note, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi

    Populism trumped reason during Finance Bill deliberations
  3. The Standard

    Audio By VocalizeTreasury CS John Mbadi, before reading the 2026/27 Budget at Parliament buildings, Nairobi, June 11, 2026.

    Inflation, the Finance Bill 2026, and the hidden cost of idle cash
  4. Citizen Digital

    Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, who was part of the Asumbi Meet the People rally, said the Finance Bill passed by the National Assembly on Thursday was above board and questioned the rationale behind the planned protests.

    ODM tells supporters to skip June 25 anniversary protests
  5. The Standard

    Treasury CS John Mbadi tells Senate that publicly guaranteed debt stands at about Sh12.842 trillion [File] National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has told the Senate that the stock of public and publicly guaranteed debt stood at about Sh12.842 trillion (equivalent to 69.4

    Mbadi tells Senate that publicly guaranteed debt stands at about Sh12.842 trillion
  6. The Standard

    The vote comes exactly one week after Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi presented a Sh4.8 trillion budget for the 2026/27 financial year.The bill passed its second reading on Wednesday, June 17.

    MPs to vote on Finance Bill, 2026 today
  7. The Standard

    The issue resurfaced after Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi left the exemption out of his 2026-2027 budget statement, prompting public expectations of relief to fade.Mbadi later said the proposal remained under consideration.

    Mbui pushes Ruto tax exemption pledge for low earners
  8. The Standard

    In a response to the Senate, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi said the country had continued to record positive growth across key sectors even as it grappled with external shocks, including conflict in the Middle East and drought-related risks experienced in late 2025.

    Treasury defends economic resilience, debt strategy and public finance reforms
  9. The Standard

    Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has projected a fiscal deficit of Sh1.14 trillion, with the government planning to raise Sh1.03 trillion through domestic borrowing and Sh116.2 billion from external sources.

    MPs clash as Finance Bill 2026 pass Second Reading
  10. The Standard

    the exercise, I set aside my frustration and began looking for holiday work to supplement the household income.That lesson came to mind last week during a discussion with a group of Gen Zs about the national budget presented to Parliament by Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi

    National budget mirrors every family's tough tradeoffs
  11. The Standard

    Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has projected a fiscal deficit of Sh1.14 trillion, with the government planning to raise Sh1.03 trillion through domestic borrowing and Sh116.2 billion from external sources.

    MPs clash as 2026 Finance Bill passes Second Reading
Politics

Kilifi County's Sh10.7 billion pending bills spark insolvency concerns

The News

Kilifi County suppliers and contractors told the Senate that mounting unpaid bills totaling Sh10.7 billion—the second highest among Kenyan counties—have pushed some businesses to collapse, with some debts remaining unpaid for a decade. The county's revenue-to-debt ratio stands at about 70 per cent of its total revenue of Sh14.3 billion in the 2024/25 financial year.

21 September 2026 · The Standard

Yesterday

  1. Kilifi County's Sh10.7 billion pending bills spark insolvency concerns

    Kilifi County suppliers and contractors told the Senate that mounting unpaid bills totaling Sh10.7 billion—the second highest among Kenyan counties—have pushed some businesses to collapse, with some debts remaining unpaid for a decade. The county's revenue-to-debt ratio stands at about 70 per cent of its total revenue of Sh14.3 billion in the 2024/25 financial year.

    21 September 2026 · The Standard

Thursday 17 September

  1. President Ruto accuses Uhuru of sabotaging government

    President William Ruto told his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta to stop sabotaging the government of Kenya, saying it is unpresidential for a former Head of State to undermine the government he once led. Ruto also accused Kenyatta of funding the opposition to wreck his government.

    17 September 2026 · Citizen Digital

Wednesday 16 September

  1. Attorney General appeals High Court ruling on Safaricom shares sale

    Attorney General Dorcas Oduor has filed a Notice of Appeal against a High Court ruling that declared the sale of the government's 15 per cent Safaricom shareholding to Vodafone Kenya Limited null and void. National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi stated the government disagreed with the court decision, maintaining that the partial divestiture was legitimate.

    16 September 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Ruto: 2027 election to reject tribalism and marginalisation

    President William Ruto said the 2027 General Election will give Kenyans a chance to rally behind national unity, inclusivity, and equitable resource distribution, and to reject tribalism, marginalisation, and divisive politics. He cited his administration's focus on service delivery and the Broad-Based Government arrangement as efforts to promote national cohesion.

    16 September 2026 · Capital News

  3. High Court nullifies Safaricom 15% share sale to Vodacom

    A three-judge High Court bench declared the government's sale of a 15 per cent stake in Safaricom to Vodacom unconstitutional and null, ordering the shares returned to the State. The court found the transaction failed to meet constitutional and legal requirements, including meaningful public participation and disclosure of material information.

    16 September 2026 · Citizen Digital

  4. High Court nullifies Safaricom 15% stake sale to Vodacom

    A three-judge bench declared the government's sale of a 15 per cent stake in Safaricom to South Africa's Vodacom unconstitutional and illegal, ordering the stake restored to state ownership. The court found the transaction violated constitutional and public finance provisions, lacked parliamentary approval, and involved insufficient public participation.

    16 September 2026 · The Standard

Tuesday 15 September

  1. Ruto attacks Uhuru as 'rebel leader,' supports court's political ban

    President William Ruto labeled retired President Uhuru Kenyatta a "rebel leader" who has refused to act as a statesman, and praised a High Court ruling barring Kenyatta from holding office in a political party, accusing Kenyatta of destabilizing his government.

    15 September 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Ruto accuses Uhuru of using Siaya governor against government

    President William Ruto accused former President Uhuru Kenyatta of using Siaya Governor to frustrate government programmes, urging county leadership to focus on serving residents. Ruto predicted the Broad-Based Government would secure a landslide victory in the 2027 General Election.

    15 September 2026 · Capital News

Sunday 13 September

  1. Ruto undertakes five-day development tour of Luo Nyanza region

    President William Ruto has begun a five-day development tour of Kisumu, Siaya, Migori, and Homa Bay counties to assess multi-billion-shilling projects and consolidate political support ahead of the 2027 General Election. The itinerary includes visits to infrastructure projects including roads and water systems.

    13 September 2026 · Citizen Digital

Wednesday 9 September

  1. KRA moves individual income tax filing deadline to April 30

    The Kenya Revenue Authority has moved the deadline for filing Individual Income Tax Returns from June 30 to April 30, effective January 1, 2027, under the Finance Act 2026. The change is intended to improve tax administration efficiency and reduce last-minute system congestion.

    9 September 2026 · Citizen Digital

Monday 7 September

  1. James Mworia appointed founding CEO of National Infrastructure Fund

    The National Infrastructure Fund has appointed Dr. James Mworia Mwirigi as founding Chief Executive Officer, effective September 7, 2026. Mworia, formerly Group Chief Executive Officer of Centum Investment Company PLC for 17 years, will lead NIF's establishment as a credible investment institution and develop its institutional frameworks and project pipeline.

    7 September 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Political class shows ethical deficiencies ahead of 2027 elections

    An opinion piece warns of worrying trends as Kenya's political class displays ethical deficiencies and gross irresponsibility, violating constitutional provisions on national values and the Bill of Rights through inciting violence and foul language. The article criticises the Ruto administration for wasteful public expenditure, institutional collapse in health and education services, and weakening public trust.

    7 September 2026 · The Standard

  3. James Mworia appointed founding CEO of National Infrastructure Fund

    The National Infrastructure Fund Board has appointed Dr James Mworia as founding Chief Executive Officer to lead the institution's operations and mobilise billions of shillings for major infrastructure projects. Mworia brings more than 25 years of experience in investment management and previously served as Group Chief Executive Officer of Centum Investment Company Plc for 17 years.

    7 September 2026 · The Standard

Friday 4 September

  1. Edible oil firms sue KRA, Treasury over Sh2.3 billion tax refund

    Three local edible oil companies—Golden Africa Kenya Ltd, Pwani Oil Products Ltd and Kapa Oil Refineries Ltd—have sued the Kenya Revenue Authority, the National Treasury Cabinet Secretary and the Attorney General, claiming the KRA has refused to refund more than Sh2.3 billion in excess taxes paid before a High Court outlawed a 10 per cent import tax increase on palm oil.

    4 September 2026 · The Standard

  2. Treasury CS sued over Sh21 billion rice import duty waiver

    Human rights activists have petitioned the courts, alleging that Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi lacks constitutional authority to waive import duty on 490,000 metric tonnes of rice worth Sh21 billion through gazette notices, arguing that tax waiver powers are reserved to legislators under Article 210(1) of the Constitution.

    4 September 2026 · The Standard

Monday 31 August

  1. Nyanza leaders urge Governor Orengo to retire after 2027 presidential bid announcement

    Days after Siaya Governor James Orengo declared his intention to run for president in 2027, Nyanza leaders including Ugenya MP David Ochieng have called on him to quit active politics and make way for younger leaders, saying several of his contemporaries have already retired from politics.

    31 August 2026 · Capital News

  2. Health CS blames counties for UHC staff salary delays

    Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale attributed delayed September salaries for Universal Health Coverage staff to counties' refusal to integrate payroll systems, saying about 12 counties resisted establishing a sustainable payroll mechanism for 7,786 UHC workers. Duale said the ministry has no funds to pay the staff unless counties add them to their payrolls or the ministry receives direct transfers.

    31 August 2026 · The Standard

Saturday 29 August

  1. Mbadi highlights road works at Homa Bay's "Yemen" junction

    Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has pointed to ongoing road works at the "Yemen" junction in Homa Bay as evidence of government infrastructure investment in the region, following public attention to the road's poor condition during a Linda Mwananchi movement tour earlier in August.

    29 August 2026 · Capital News

Monday 24 August

  1. Deputy President Kindiki chairs IBEC, rejects role-change reports

    Deputy President Kithure Kindiki chaired the 30th Ordinary Session of the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC) on Monday, putting to rest claims that he had been stripped of the role following reports that Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi had been assigned the intergovernmental relations docket. The government maintained that Kindiki remains IBEC chairman under the Public Finance Management Act.

    24 August 2026 · Capital News

  2. Deputy President lauds timely disbursement of funds to counties

    Deputy President Kithure Kindiki chaired the 30th Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council session in Nairobi, stating that the National Treasury has released all monthly payments through August to the 47 devolved units with no pending allocations, demonstrating the government's commitment to support devolution despite fiscal constraints.

    24 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

  3. Mbadi dismisses Babu Owino as juvenile politician ahead of 2027 election

    Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has criticized Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, calling him a juvenile politician who overrates himself, after Babu vowed to prevent Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma's re-election in 2027. Mbadi pledged to mobilize support for Kaluma's re-election and for President Ruto in the area.

    24 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

Friday 21 August

  1. National Infrastructure Fund adopts strict commercial viability criteria

    The National Infrastructure Fund, holding Sh340 billion, will now only fund state projects that can demonstrate economic viability, according to a new Investment Policy Statement introduced by Treasury. The fund will operate on strict commercial principles to ensure capital preservation and revenue generation.

    21 August 2026 · The Standard

Tuesday 18 August

  1. Former Suba South MP Mbadi criticises successor over poor roads

    John Mbadi, who represented Suba South for 15 years, has blamed his successor for poor road conditions in the constituency. A Linda Mwananchi tour of Homa Bay County exposed the state of roads in the region, sparking public criticism about resource allocation for infrastructure.

    18 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Mbadi blamed for poor roads during Homa Bay opposition tour

    Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi blamed his successor, Suba South MP Caroli Omondi, for poor road conditions exposed during a Linda Mwananchi tour of Homa Bay County led by Senator Edwin Sifuna, though Kenyans on social media questioned what Mbadi himself accomplished during his 17 years representing the constituency before becoming Cabinet Secretary.

    18 August 2026 · The Standard

Monday 17 August

  1. Mbadi dismisses road criticism as Linda Mwananchi tour highlights

    National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has rejected criticism over road conditions in Suba, Homa Bay County, accusing the Linda Mwananchi campaign team of deliberately filming feeder roads rather than main highways to misrepresent the region's infrastructure.

    17 August 2026 · Capital News

  2. Homa Bay's dusty roads spark online backlash during political tour

    An Edwin Sifuna-led Linda Mwananchi countrywide tour in Homa Bay County drew public criticism over the county's poor road conditions, with the touring convoy forced onto dusty detours after main roads were blocked, prompting local leaders to explain the underdevelopment.

    17 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

Sunday 16 August

  1. Gachagua rejects Mbadi's soda consumption economy recovery claim

    Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua dismissed Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi's argument that rising soft-drink consumption indicates improving household incomes and economic recovery, saying the government was using misleading indicators to portray Kenya's economy as healthy.

    16 August 2026 · Capital News

  2. Gachagua denies Uhuru financing opposition against Ruto

    Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua dismissed allegations that Uhuru Kenyatta is funding opposition campaigns against President William Ruto, stating the movement for political change is driven by public support and does not need external financing.

    16 August 2026 · The Standard

Wednesday 12 August

  1. CS Mbadi cites rising soda consumption as sign of economic progress

    National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi defended President William Ruto's administration's economic record by arguing that increased soft-drink consumption indicates Kenyans have more disposable income after meeting basic needs, drawing online backlash.

    12 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Treasury CS cites rising soda consumption as sign of economic progress

    National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi argued that increased soft-drink consumption indicates some Kenyans have more disposable income, citing it as evidence of economic progress under President Ruto's administration. Mbadi defended the government's economic record, saying it has stabilized an economy he described as "almost tipping" when the administration took office.

    12 August 2026 · Capital News

John Mbadi — Kenyan press coverage · Kenya Minute