Sifuna accuses Mbadi of ‘turning into proper Kenya kwanza CS’

By Peter Ochieng

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has accused Treasury Cabinet Secretary (CS) John Mbadi of turning into a ‘proper Kenya Kwanza Cabinet Secretary’ within a matter of weeks.

Sifuna who doubles up as ODM party Secretary General was irked by Mbadi’s no show at the Senate on Wednesday morning.

“We woke up very early in the morning to come and attend this session. The question that I was supposed to ask CS Mbadi is a question that is a year old. It has taken him less than two weeks for him to become a proper Kenya Kwanza cabinet secretary who has no respect for this House,” Sifuna said.

“I want to tell John Mbadi that this is unacceptable. This is totally unacceptable. In fact, it is worse because he was a Member of Parliament (MP). If he was just plucked from the wilderness like some of the other people I see, maybe we would excuse him,” he added.

Before being appointed CS weeks ago, Mbadi was the national ODM chairman, where he closely worked with Sifuna. The Senator claimed Mbadi has ‘suddenly changed.’

“John Mbadi must be called to order. This is not the John Mbadi I knew, I don’t know what they have done to him. He used to respect Parliament.”

Through a point of order, Majority Leader in the Senate Aaron Cheruiyot protested Sifuna’s assertion that ‘Mbadi had become a proper Kenya Kwanza CS who has no respect for the House.’

Mbadi was expected to appear before the Senate to respond to several questions raised by Senators. He had expressed his commitment to attend.

Senator Sifuna wanted him to explain the failure by the e-Citizen digital platform to process payments made to some government institutions.

However, he failed to appear and instead sent a communication to Senate Deputy Speaker Senate Deputy Speaker Kathuri Murungi in the middle of the session, informing him that other engagements had come up at State House, Nairobi.

The Deputy Speaker ruled him out of order.

“It is not in order to receive a letter from CS John Mbadi when the session is on. The Senate can revoke Standing Order 51 (d) to censure the CS for failing to appear before this House without giving a probable cause.”