Treasury CS John Mbadi Sparks Public Outrage Over Fuel Protest Remarks
National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi is facing severe backlash from Kenyans following his controversial remarks regarding the ongoing nationwide transport strikes and protests over soaring fuel prices.
Mbadi, a prominent Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) official appointed to President William Ruto’s broad-based government, has left the public with more questions than answers after defending the state’s taxation policy during a media brief.
“Politically Motivated” vs “Organic”
In a statement that deeply angered struggling citizens, the Treasury CS claimed that the current wave of fuel protests is politically motivated. He contrasted the ongoing demonstrations with previous ones, which he termed “organic” expressions of public dissatisfaction.
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“This is a war that we have not caused,” Mbadi argued, attributing the sudden price spikes to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Sh11.2 Billion Used to Cushion Prices
Defending the Kenya Kwanza administration, Mbadi insisted that the government has done everything within its power to shield consumers from painful pump prices.
According to the CS, the state has already utilized over Sh11.2 billion from the fuel stabilization fund over the last two cycles—including Sh6.2 billion initially and an additional Sh5 billion in the latest pricing review.
Without these interventions, he claimed, diesel prices would have breached the Sh270 per litre mark.
No Tax Cuts
Despite mounting pressure from the public and fellow politicians to lower the cost of living, Mbadi maintained a firm stance on taxes.
He rejected calls to scrap or heavily slash the Value Added Tax (VAT) on petroleum products, warning that reducing these essential revenue streams would cripple national budget implementation and road maintenance.
Kenyans have taken to social media to express their disappointment, accusing the former aggressive opposition figure of turning his back on the plight of ordinary citizens since joining the government.
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