By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 12 July 2026 - Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has defended the appointment of members to the newly constituted National Infrastructure Fund (NIF) Board, urging Kenyans to stop politicising the exercise and instead focus on the fund's potential to transform the country's development agenda.
Speaking during an empowerment programme for Kibos Line SACCO in Kisumu, Mbadi dismissed criticism surrounding the appointments, saying the board was constituted in accordance with the law to oversee one of Kenya's most significant economic reforms.
He cautioned against using the appointments as a political weapon to tarnish either his reputation or that of President William Ruto's administration.
"The National Infrastructure Fund is about Kenya's future, not politics. We should allow institutions to discharge their mandate without dragging every appointment into political contests," Mbadi said.
The National Infrastructure Fund is expected to become a major vehicle for financing strategic public investments through long-term domestic capital mobilisation.
The fund will channel proceeds from strategic government investments and other approved revenue streams into critical infrastructure projects, including roads, railways, ports, energy, water systems and digital connectivity.
The initiative is intended to reduce reliance on expensive external borrowing while creating a sustainable source of financing for projects expected to drive economic growth for decades.
Mbadi said the government was laying the foundation for future generations by ensuring that proceeds from strategic national assets are reinvested into productive infrastructure capable of stimulating investment, creating jobs and improving service delivery across the country.
The Treasury Cabinet Secretary was flanked by Kisumu Central MP Dr Joshua Oron and Agriculture and Food Authority Director Samuel Ong'ou, who both used the occasion to rally support for President William Ruto's bid for a second term in office.
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Dr Oron said the broad-based partnership between the Kenya Kwanza administration and sections of the opposition had begun delivering tangible development benefits, urging residents to support President Ruto's re-election to guarantee continuity of ongoing projects.
Ong'ou echoed the call, arguing that sustained political stability would enable the government to accelerate infrastructure development, agricultural transformation and economic empowerment programmes across the country.
Mbadi reinforced the political message, revealing that leaders allied to the broad-based government had embarked on an aggressive campaign to popularise President Ruto's development record ahead of the next General Election.
He said they would traverse the country asking Kenyans to judge the President on his achievements rather than political rhetoric.
"We are going to the people to market President William Ruto because we believe he is the best choice to continue leading this country. We shall sell his record and ask Kenyans to give him another term," Mbadi said.
His remarks signalled the growing confidence among leaders backing the broad-based government, who are increasingly presenting the National Infrastructure Fund as a cornerstone of President Ruto's long-term economic agenda. Supporters argue that by reinvesting proceeds from strategic public assets into productive national infrastructure, the fund will strengthen Kenya's financial resilience, unlock private investment and provide a sustainable model for financing development while easing pressure on public debt.
Mbadi Defends National Infrastructure Fund Board as He Rallies Support for Ruto's Re-election
Treasury CS and Kisumu Central MP rally support for President William Ruto's bid for a second term in office.