Kitui senator Wambua proposes censure motion against Treasury CS Mbadi
By Mabonga Makhanu, November 12, 2025Kitui Senator Enock Wambua has called for a censure motion against Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi after he failed to honour several Senate summons.
Speaking during a Senate session on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, the senator appeared visibly exasperated, demanding that the CS face consequences for repeatedly failing to appear before Parliament for questioning despite multiple summons.
Wambua reminded the House that Article 125 of the Constitution gives either House of Parliament and its committees the power to summon any person to appear and provide information, including the president.
He further cited Article 132 of the Constitution, which outlines the functions of the President, noting that the Head of State is constitutionally required to address Parliament.
He argued that if the President can appear before Parliament, then Cabinet Secretaries should not find it difficult to do the same.
Censure motion
The senator expressed his frustration, revealing that he had already submitted a censure motion against the Treasury CS. He accused Mbadi of making it a habit to appear before Parliament only when it suits him.
Wambua urged the Speaker to assert the authority of the chair, emphasising that Cabinet Secretaries are not being requested but are required by law to appear before Parliament.
“I say this with a lot of pain, because on your desk, Mister Speaker, because you are the speaker, there is essential motion against the CS for Treasury, requested by us, truly the senator of Kitui, because this CS has made it a habit that he can only appear before Parliament, even when he chooses to appear,” Wambua said.
Other senators’ demands
He further referenced directives issued by Laikipia Senator John Kinyua and Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, who had ordered that the CS appear before the Senate on Wednesday, October 19, 2025.
Wambua stressed that the order was not an idle request but an effort to reinforce the authority of Parliament. He also reminded the House that the Senate Business Committee (SBC) is a creature of the House and not superior to the Speaker’s authority.
He urged the Speaker to issue a firm directive for the CS to appear before the Senate and, if he failed to do so, to activate the censure motion for debate.
The speaker’s reaction
Senator Mohammed Haji, who was sitting in as Speaker, responded by clarifying that the Treasury CS had previously appeared before the Senate. He explained that this was the first time Mbadi had missed a session for this particular set of questions, and therefore, there was no basis for a censure motion at the time.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei also expressed frustration over the repeated failure of Cabinet Secretaries to appear before the Senate, calling on the Speaker to take decisive action.
In response, Senator Wambua remarked that such challenges were the result of the so-called broad-based government that the administration supported by Cherargei had chosen to form in partnership with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).