Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has maintained that the government is committed to revitalise Kenya’s economy and accelerate infrastructure development.
Speaking during President William Ruto’s visit to Migori County, Mbadi—hailed the recently unveiled national budget as a “transformative” blueprint aimed at addressing systemic economic challenges.
“When we formed a broad-based government, I made a promise that we would work together to bring the economy back,” said Mbadi. “And we are on course. For those who don’t want to believe, we are on course.”Mbadi praised the 2024/25 budget as “one of the best,” citing it as a reflection of deliberate, inclusive planning. He pointed to significant infrastructure allocations to Migori County, including long-overdue tarmacking of roads in areas such as Kanyawanga to Dede, Rapogi, and the industrial corridor from Bosa to Makalda.
“No other government has remembered these places like this one has,” he said, listing several road projects approved for funding in Kuria East and West, Stella Tugong, and the connection from Kababu to Tuvale Kacholo.In a move he called historic, Mbadi highlighted the recent upgrade of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Hospital (formerly Russia Hospital) in Kisumu to a Level 6 facility, now under national government management.
The budget allocation for the hospital has jumped from KSh400 million to over KSh 3.2 billion—nearly an eightfold increase.
“That’s what economic rights look like,” he added.Mbadi emphasised that while political rights have long been a focus in the region, economic rights—access to quality infrastructure, healthcare, and education—must now take center stage.
“We must appreciate what our leaders have done before us, but we also have to move forward. Economic rights are human rights too,” he stated.He also defended the government’s commitment to equity in development across counties like Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay, and Migori, asserting that the leadership of President Ruto—working in cooperation with Raila Odinga—is ushering in a new era of inclusive economic transformation.
