NAIROBI, Kenya – National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has appealed to President William Ruto to retain him in government should he secure a second term in the 2027 General Election, revealing that he has no plans to vie for any elective seat.
Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV on Wednesday, Mbadi said he had made a conscious decision to stay away from elective politics and instead hopes to continue serving in the Executive beyond the 2027 polls.
“I’m intending to remain Waziri, possibly until after August 2027. I’m not going to run for any elected position. After August, I hope His Excellency the President, after winning, God willing, will still give me an appointment,” Mbadi said.
“I have taken a conscious decision not to run.”
The Treasury CS’s remarks come months after he dismissed speculation that he was preparing to contest the Homa Bay governorship in 2027, insisting that his focus remains on national leadership rather than elective office.
Mbadi also reflected on his political journey, recalling his unsuccessful attempt to become Homa Bay governor in 2022 and hinting that his long-term ambitions lie beyond county politics.
“I was running for governor of Homa Bay in 2022. That did not materialise, you know why. I’m now a cabinet secretary, and we are in 2026. To be honest with you, I can only go up; I don’t want to go down. It will be foolish for me to go back to Homa Bay. I can only go up. I want to reach the sky. I want to lead this country in future,” he said.
Earlier this year, while addressing a public participation forum on the Budget and Privatisation at Kiambu National Polytechnic, Mbadi maintained that his priority was helping build the country rather than worrying about whether he would remain in office after the next election.
“Even when you say we will remove this one and put that one, even if it is your brother, if there is no food, there is no point. That is the plain truth,” he said.
“Even if you remove us in 2027, I go home; I will still eat. Or do you think I will die of hunger? I will still eat.”
Highlighting his career in both public and private service, Mbadi argued that he has built enough experience to remain financially secure regardless of his political future.
“I have worked for 30 years. I worked at the university, I have been a finance director at an international organisation, I have been an MP for 17 years and now a Cabinet Secretary. With all those working years, if I don’t have food when we are voted out, whose fault will it be?” he asked.