Mbadi clarifies Mau Mau remarks, says he was misquoted
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, April 18, 2026The Treasury Cabinet Secretary, John Mbadi, has come out to clarify statements that he made on the Mau Mau movement, saying that he was misquoted and that he had said that the liberation struggle in Kenya was diverse and collective.
In a video posted on his X handle on Saturday, April 18, 2026, Mbadi has described how each ethnic group in Kenya played a significant role during the colonial rule. He had emphasised that the Mau Mau uprising was a significant component of the independence struggle but not the only form of resistance since all communities played a role in their own way.
“I was misquoted on Mau Mau’s role in the fight against colonialism. What I meant, and I repeat: every ethnic community had specific grievances which informed the nature and approach of their fight. Likewise, not every Kenyan represented the country in the Lancaster negotiations. There was diversity in strength, a fact that can’t be downplayed. Unless there have been previous attempts to distort Kenyan history for economic advantage,” Mbadi stated.
He also added that the Luo people, like the Mau Mau rebels, had a great input into the independence of Kenya. To him, the liberation of the country was a national affair that involved all tribes, with each having a role to play based on their historical conditions and ability at the time.
John Mbadi credited Luo figures for negotiating Kenya’s 1963 independence at Lancaster House. The CS also indicated that all Kenyan communities did not have the same representation in the Lancaster House constitutional negotiations, as it was then a reflection of the political realities and the degree of influence at that time.
Meanwhile, Mbadi urged a united Kenya, and it was through collective sacrifice among the people that Kenya would attain independence. He encouraged Kenyans to shun tribal discrimination and instead accept the fact that no ethnic group should claim a monopoly on the freedom struggle in the country.
Mbadi’s prior statement
On Tuesday, April 4, 2026, the cabinet secretary speaking at a function was quoted as attributing the success of Kenya in gaining independence to individuals from the Luo region who went to Lancaster House, a statement he has now termed as having been misquoted.
“It is Jaramogi and Tom Mboya who brought independence to this country. They went to Lancaster House and spoke all their English, exhausting every argument to secure the win, ignoring Mau Mau nonsense,” Mbadi said.