By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 18 January 2026 - Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi’s latest remarks signal a deliberate attempt to reposition both himself and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) within Kenya’s evolving political landscape, even as debates over regionalism and political cooperation intensify.
Speaking in Uasin Gishu County, Mbadi mounted a strong critique of leaders he accused of promoting exclusionary, region-based politics, framing such narratives as a direct threat to national cohesion.
His argument went beyond rhetoric, touching on the deeper question of how Kenyans imagine ownership of the state and its institutions.
In rejecting claims that national schools or public opportunities should be dominated by specific regions, Mbadi appeared to challenge a recurring undercurrent in Kenyan politics: the tendency to equate political power with regional entitlement.
His insistence that national institutions are funded by taxpayers from across the country positions him firmly within a constitutionalist view of citizenship—one that treats equality of access as both a democratic principle and a safeguard against fragmentation.
This stance also carries political weight. Delivered in Uasin Gishu, a region often associated with strong political identity, the message seemed calculated to underscore ODM’s attempt to project itself as a national, rather than regional, political force.
It also subtly aligned with President William Ruto’s long-running calls for unity, reinforcing the narrative of cooperation between ODM leaders and the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Yet Mbadi’s remarks were not limited to national unity. Turning inward, he reaffirmed his loyalty to ODM, even as the party continues its uneasy cooperation with President Ruto’s government. His assertion that “my party remains ODM” sought to dispel lingering perceptions that senior ODM figures working with the government are drifting politically.
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By emphasising discipline and respect for party leadership, Mbadi echoed a long-standing ODM tradition of centralised authority and loyalty to leadership structures—an implicit rebuttal to internal dissent and speculation about splinter movements. His call for members to “support, strengthen and protect” the party leadership suggests an awareness that cooperation with the ruling coalition risks internal fractures if not carefully managed.
Mbadi framed ODM’s engagement with the Ruto administration as strategic rather than ideological, arguing that cooperation offers the party a meaningful avenue to influence policy and governance.
This pragmatic approach reflects a broader recalibration within ODM: moving from opposition politics to negotiated relevance in a government it does not formally control.
Perhaps most politically charged was his claim that Nyanza residents have already signalled support for President Ruto’s re-election. Whether aspirational or grounded in emerging political realities, the statement challenges long-held assumptions about fixed regional voting blocs and hints at a potential reconfiguration of alliances ahead of the next general election.
Taken together, Mbadi’s remarks reveal a balancing act.
On one hand, he is pushing back against regionalism and asserting a national vision of citizenship.
On the other, he is defending ODM’s identity while justifying its cooperation with a rival political formation. The success of this strategy may ultimately depend on whether Kenyans view cooperation as statesmanship—or as a compromise of opposition ideals in the pursuit of influence.
