NAIROBI, Kenya — Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning, Hon. FCPA John Mbadi, has emphasized that Kenya’s democratic stability hinges on inclusive governance and the willingness to embrace political compromise.
Speaking at the UNSA Academic and Mentorship Week at the University of Nairobi’s School of Law, CS Mbadi noted that Kenya’s political history demonstrates that moments of national tension require broad-based arrangements to safeguard unity and legitimacy.
Addressing the theme “Law and Democracy in the Spectrum of the Great Compromise,” he said democracy should not be seen merely as majority rule, particularly in a developing nation where many citizens feel excluded from decision-making.
“For law to gain legitimacy, it must be deemed just. People will only accept governance outcomes when they believe their concerns, as citizens and taxpayers, are genuinely included,” he said.
CS Mbadi cited key milestones where compromise strengthened Kenya’s political framework, including cooperation between Raila Odinga and KANU, the 2007/08 Coalition Government, the 2018 Handshake, and the current broad-based government arrangement.
He described these moments as critical to safeguarding the nation and expanding citizens’ space to feel heard and represented.
Reflecting on the 2022 elections and the 2024 Gen Z protests, the CS highlighted the narrow electoral margins and heightened public frustration, noting that nearly half the electorate was uncertain their interests would be represented. “The need for an inclusive arrangement became apparent,” he said.
He challenged law students to critically examine Kenya’s legal and governance frameworks, urging them to ensure minority voices are protected and that law, justice, and inclusion converge. “As future custodians of the law, your responsibility is to build legal frameworks that work in the real world,” he said.
On the economic front, CS Mbadi reaffirmed that Kenya is on a recovery trajectory, crediting targeted policies that have stabilized key indicators and restored confidence.
He highlighted the decline in inflation from 9.6pc in 2022 to 3.8pc and noted that the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) continues to drive inclusive growth.
While encouraging constructive criticism, he cautioned against persistent negativity that ignores progress, stressing that public scrutiny should be balanced with acknowledgment of reforms yielding positive results.
“Kenya is taking the right steps, and we need national unity of purpose to sustain this momentum,” he said, reiterating the government’s commitment to disciplined economic management, transparency, and long-term reforms.
