Atandi: There is no way Mbadi can attack Raila’s family
By Mabonga Makhanu, May 18, 2026Alego Usonga MP Sam Atandi has come out to defend Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, saying that his remarks made in Mombasa were misinterpreted and taken out of context.
While speaking during an interview with Obinna TV on Monday, May 18, 2026, the outspoken MP strongly defended the Treasury boss over his “Where is Raila now?” remarks.
Atandi said Mbadi’s statement was misunderstood and was not intended to disrespect the family of the late Raila Odinga or the party leadership. He explained that Mbadi was addressing ODM members during an internal meeting where they were discussing the future direction of the party.
“Yes, first of all, I think Mbadi was misunderstood. His intention was not to spite the family of Raila. What he was just trying to urge ODM members, because it was an in-house meeting where ODM members were met to discuss, “How do we chat our way forward?”
He added that the discussion was focused on how the party should move forward following the absence of Raila Odinga from active political leadership. According to him, Mbadi’s message was a call for ODM members to rethink their dependence on the former party leader and instead focus on building a new path forward.
Raila’s role
Atandi further stated that Mbadi was simply emphasising that while Raila played a key role in building the party, ODM must now accept the reality of his absence and work on shaping its own political future.
“So I think Mbadi was making his contribution in the meeting, and he was saying that, okay, you members know Baba really helped this party, but Baba is not there. If we are still going to rely on Baba, we will never move forward. Let us understand that Baba is no longer with us. We need to find a way of charting our own destiny as a people.”
The budget chair concluded that Mbadi’s remarks were misinterpreted and blown out of proportion, turning what was meant to be an internal political discussion into what he termed a political hot potato.
Mbadi-Odinga’s spat
This comes at a time when there is a public spat between the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga family and Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi. The tension arose after Mbadi, during a delegates’ meeting at the coast, called out Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga, accusing her of several issues, including what he termed as undermining the ODM party leadership.
Mbadi also told her that just because she is the sister of a party leader, she should not assume she will receive preferential treatment or command the party.
He further intensified his criticism of Ruth Odinga, saying she often claims that Raila Odinga said this or that and questioning her by asking, “Where is Raila now?” to verify whether her statements were accurate.
These sentiments have irked several members of the Odinga family. Raila Odinga’s daughter has come out to slam Mbadi, telling him that his office at the Treasury and Finance docket is not a political office.