Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has dismissed speculations that he could be seeking the position of governor for Homa Bay County in the 2027 General Elections.

Speaking at a press conference at a function on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, Mbadi dismissed claims that he could be interested in the Homa Bay County top seat. Mbadi has insisted that his focus remains on serving the nation, and he looks forward to serving in a higher capacity than a cabinet secretary. He has hinted that he would want to lead the county in the future.

“I am now a Cabinet Secretary, and we are in 2026. To be honest with you, I can only go up; I don’t want to go down. It will be foolish of me to go back to Homabay. I can only go up, and I want to lead this country’s future,” CS Mbadi said.

The Homa Bay County gubernatorial race is expected to attract a lot of political heavyweights, with the incumbent Gladys Wanga looking forward to retaining the mantle at the helm of the county.

Wanga’s rivals

The race to lead the devolved unit has been seen to be intensified further by the entry of Deputy Governor Oyugi Magwanga, who has announced a bid to unseat his current boss from the position.

Oyugi is on record vowing to make Governor Wanga a ‘one-term governor’ by opposing her reelection bid.

Magwanga faulted Wanga’s leadership, saying her administration had mismanaged the county and was struggling to pay contractors or meet basic operational needs in county offices.

“Wanga is a one-term governor, and her time is up. I sacrificed for you to be the governor, but you are very ungrateful. Now it is time for payback,” Oyugi declared.

Mbadi’s political journey

Mbadi has served as Member of Parliament for Suba Constituency after he was elected in the March 4, 2013, elections on an ODM ticket.

He was serving his third term in parliament until July 24, 2024, when President William Ruto nominated him as Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning. He assumed office on August 8, 2024.