Mbadi Signals Long Game for State House After Ruto Era

By Kepher Otieno - Reporter

Kenya, 25 December 2025 - Cabinet Secretary for Treasury John Mbadi has openly positioned himself as a long-term presidential contender, framing his ambition within Kenya’s political history and his current role at the heart of government.

By invoking former finance ministers who later rose to the presidency—Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta—Mbadi is making a deliberate case that his trajectory mirrors a proven path to State House.

Mbadi has argued that the Treasury docket has historically prepared leaders for the country’s top job because it places them at the centre of economic decision-making and national planning.

“If you look at our history, finance ministers like Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta eventually became Presidents,” Mbadi has said in recent political engagements.

“That office gives you a national outlook, and I believe I am well placed.”

His remarks are not merely historical reflections. They are a clear signal of intent.

Mbadi has increasingly spoken with confidence about his future, telling supporters that he is “next in line” and that he will not shy away from contesting when the moment arrives.

“I will go for it,” he has said, underlining that his ambition should be seen as legitimate and rooted in service rather than entitlement.

Mbadi’s emerging presidential posture also explains his current political strategy.

As a key figure in the broad-based government under President William Ruto, he has taken on the role of a bridge-builder, courting Kenyans beyond his traditional political base.

His messaging has shifted from partisan mobilisation to national unity, economic stability, and shared prosperity—themes designed to resonate across regions and communities.

“All Kenyans matter to me,” Mbadi has said, presenting himself as a national figure rather than a regional or party-defined politician.

In aligning himself with Ruto’s administration and defending its economic agenda, Mbadi appears to be betting that proximity to power and policy delivery will strengthen his credibility ahead of a future presidential bid.

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The comparison with Kibaki and Kenyatta is also strategic in another sense.

Both men used the finance portfolio to project competence, fiscal discipline, and international confidence—qualities that appeal to voters seeking stability.

Mbadi seems intent on crafting a similar image: a technocrat-politician who understands the economy and can manage the state.

Critics, however, see his ambition as premature and politically risky, especially given the sensitivities around succession politics.

They argue that openly talking about 2032 while the current administration is still early in its mandate could alienate allies or fuel perceptions of opportunism.

Mbadi’s supporters counter that there is nothing wrong with planning early, noting that President Ruto himself began laying the groundwork for his presidency years in advance.

Mbadi has brushed off the criticism, insisting that ambition should not be mistaken for disloyalty.

“You can serve loyally today and still prepare for tomorrow,” he has said, portraying his role in government as both service and apprenticeship.

Ultimately, Mbadi’s statements suggest a politician who believes his moment is coming and wants Kenyans to get used to the idea.

By anchoring his ambition in historical precedent, leveraging his current office, and actively courting the public, he is signaling that his presidential project is not a rumour but a calculated, long-term plan.

Whether Kenyans will buy into this narrative remains to be seen. But one thing is clear.

Mbadi no longer speaks like a man content with the sidelines. He is speaking like someone already imagining himself on the ballot—and inviting the country to imagine it too.