Mbadi: Some Mt. Kenya leaders are unhappy because I am Treasury CS

Cabinet Secretary for  National Treasury John Mbadi has claimed that some leaders from the Mt Kenya region are not happy ever since he was appointed to the Treasury docket.

Speaking at Nyabera Comprehensive School in Suba South Constituency during a fundraiser for the Nyang Reswa women’s empowerment programme, Mbadi said the criticism directed at President William Ruto by some leaders from the region is driven by dissatisfaction over his appointment as Treasury Cabinet Secretary.

Mbadi was accompanied by the National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wa and his Senate counterpart Aron Cheruiyot.

"Ichung'wa, truth be told. Ruto has not betrayed the people of Mt Kenya. Is it because Mbadi is the CS for National Treasury or because Rigathi Gachagua was impeached?" He said.

The CS argued that there are many developments which Ruto's government had implemented in Central region and that there are many principal secretaries and cabinet secretaries in Ruto's government who hail from Mt. Kenya region.

"We need to honest. Our brothers and sisters in Mt Kenya enjoy development projects and state jobs. Thus, the allegation that Ruto has betrayed them is false," said Mbadi.

He said time had come for leaders to engage in truth.

"Ten out of eighteen people who held this position before came Central. What's wrong if I hold it? Let's stop lies against Ruto," Mbadi said.

The CS told Nyanza residents to support Ruto's re-election due to numerous development projects he undertakes in the area.

"Today, the people of Nyanza are witnessing construction of roads which have never been done in this region since time memorial," Mbadi said.

Ichung’wa supported Mbadi that the highest concentration of principal secretaries and cabinet secretaries is from Central region.

"There are 16 cabinet secretaries from Central and CSs are equally concentrated in the government. We have the largest share of allocation for development in the national budget yet some people are still singing one term,” Ichung’wa said.

However, Ichung'wa attributed the hatred to former deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

He accused Gachagua of perpetrating ethnic hatred in Central to dissuade residents from Ruto.

"The resistance coming from Mt Kenya is not about development or betrayal or the masses. It is about one person who is perpetrating ethnic hatred in the region," Ichung'wa said.

Cheruiyot hailed the broad-based government saying it was aimed at ending marginalisation.

"It is wrong for some people to think that people from certain regions should not hold positions in the government. The broad-based government aims at ending ethnic discrimination," Cheruiyot said.

Cheruiyot said the broad-based government is going to improve the lives of the people of Nyanza region.

"This is the government that is giving the people of Nyanza projects they have never seen since time memorial. We must now enhance equalisation in Kenya," he added.