Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has launched a scathing attack on the government’s touted “broad-based” approach, dismissing it as hollow rhetoric and accusing top officials of disrespecting Parliament.
Speaking during a charged Senate session on Wednesday, Sifuna questioned the commitment of government leaders to accountability after Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi failed to appear before the House for a scheduled plenary session.
The Senator sharply criticized Mbadi’s absence, revealing that the CS had sent a last-minute notification to Senate Speaker Amason Kingi citing “official engagements”—yet had earlier appeared on a live television interview.
“I was watching Citizen TV before the Inter Milan and Barcelona game and saw CS Mbadi speaking,” Sifuna said. “He had time for a TV interview but not to show up before this House? That’s unacceptable.”
Sifuna, who also serves as the ODM Secretary General, declared that he would not shield any public official—regardless of party affiliation—who fails to uphold their constitutional duties.
“For as long as I am the Senator for Nairobi, we will not babysit ministers. They are here to serve the people, not play games,” he stated.
The remarks come amid increasing skepticism from sections of the opposition over President William Ruto’s “broad-based government” initiative, which seeks to include leaders from various political divides. Sifuna, however, dismissed the concept as elusive.
“I don’t know where this so-called broad-based government exists,” he remarked, accusing the administration of double standards when it comes to genuine inclusivity and accountability.
