NAIROBI, Kenya — Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has defended President William Ruto’s administration, arguing that dissatisfaction in the Mt. Kenya region is driven by the removal of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua rather than the government’s performance or economic policies.
Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV’s JKLive on Wednesday night, Mbadi said complaints from the region had shifted from concerns over agriculture to claims of political betrayal following Gachagua’s ouster from office.
“Today, I don’t hear people from Mlima (Mt. Kenya) complaining about tea, coffee or milk. They are complaining about being betrayed. So how were they betrayed? They say Wamunyoro (Gachagua) has been removed from office. If you have heard them complain about tea, tell me. If you have heard them complain about coffee, tell me,” Mbadi said.
The Cabinet Secretary maintained that the Kenya Kwanza administration has prioritised funding for agriculture in the Finance Bill 2026, describing the sector as central to the country’s economic recovery.
Treasury Defends Agriculture Funding
Mbadi said the government had allocated substantial resources to programmes aimed at supporting farmers and revitalising key agricultural value chains.
“We have set our priorities right. We have provided money where it should be, including for agriculture. We have allocated Sh19.1 billion for the fertiliser subsidy programme, Sh2.7 billion for sugar reforms, and funding to support the tea and coffee sectors,” he said.
According to the Treasury CS, the investments demonstrate the government’s commitment to improving farmers’ incomes and strengthening food security.
He argued that the administration’s spending priorities are beginning to yield positive results across several agricultural sectors.
Coffee Sector Recovery
Responding to concerns raised by JKLive host Jeff Koinange that Kenya’s coffee industry had not regained its former strength, Mbadi acknowledged that the sector still faces challenges but insisted it is on a recovery path.
“We have revived the coffee sector,” he said.
He compared the current administration’s approach with that of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, claiming that farmers in the Mt. Kenya region had previously expressed frustration over the state of tea, coffee and dairy farming.
“Remember, before President Uhuru left office, what problem did he have with the people from Mlima? They said he had neglected tea, coffee and milk, and they also talked about stalled roads,” Mbadi said.
He expressed confidence that Kenya’s coffee industry would continue to recover.
“Coffee has been revived in this country. It’s a fact. It’s not yet where it used to be, but it will get there. Coffee used to be Kenya’s number one export earner, and we will go back there, unless other sectors overtake it,” he added.
Government Cites Broader Reforms
Beyond coffee, Mbadi pointed to ongoing reforms in the edible oils sub-sector and increased support for avocado farming as examples of the government’s broader agricultural transformation agenda.
“We have also started revamping the edible oil sub-sector. Look at what is happening in that space. You just covered a story on avocado. These things don’t just happen,” he said.
The Cabinet Secretary also credited the fertiliser subsidy programme with improving maize production and stabilising food supplies.
“For a long period now, we have not had shortages of maize in this country. That didn’t just happen. The fertiliser subsidy programme was not being implemented in the previous administration, but today a lot is happening,” he said.