I can sweep State House if Raila asks me - Mbadi on his role if Azimio forms gov’t

ODM Chairman John Mbadi has confirmed that he will not be seeking an elective seat in the August 2022general election. Mbadi had expressed interest in the Homa Bay gubernatorial seat, but on Monday March 28, 2022 announced that he had opted out of the race. Following his announcement, many believed that he would be defending his Suba South parliamentary seat. However, speaking to KTN news on Tuesday night, Mbadi noted that his focus is on national politics, with the main goal being ensuring ODM leader Raila Odinga wins the presidency. Regarding what the future holds for him now that he will not be contesting any seat, Mbadi noted that he is the chair of ODM party, and should Raila form government, he would be the chair of the ruling party, which in his view is quite a big position. "I’m the national chair of the biggest party in this country, ODM. He party has donated a presidential candidate to Azimio Coalition; a coalition with highest probability of forming next government. The chairman of such a party, you cannot ask him what is your political future,” Mbadi said. [caption id="attachment_12703" align="alignnone" width="1488"] ODM Chairman John Mbadi welcomes several MPs and MCAs to ODM at Chungwa House on Thursday, March 3, 2022. |Courtesy| Twitter|[/caption] He gave an example of former Jubilee Party Secretary General Raphael tuju who was named a Cabinet secretary without portfolio in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government. As to whether he had been promised any specific position should Raila form government, Mbadi declined to reveal the nature of his discussions with his party leader, only noting that he is ready to serve in any capacity, including being a sweeper at State House, should he be called upon. “In politics what many politicians fail to appreciate is reality… The Governor of Homa Bay is a county position. If your party boss tells you, could you accept that in the event we form government, we work at the national government level in whatever capacity… “I can go sweep at State House if my party leader tells me to go there, or even get another appointment anywhere,” he said.