Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning, John Mbadi, has warned political leaders against promoting regional and exclusionary politics, saying such narratives threaten national unity and undermine Kenya’s democratic values.

Speaking during a public forum in Uasin Gishu County on Sunday, January 18, 2026, Mbadi criticised leaders who frame national leadership and opportunities through a regional lens, arguing that Kenya belongs to all its citizens regardless of their background.

“This country does not belong to one region or one group of people. National institutions are built using taxes from all Kenyans and must serve everyone equally,” Mbadi said.

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He took issue with leaders who suggest that pupils from certain regions should be excluded from national schools or public opportunities, describing such sentiments as dangerous and unacceptable.

“You cannot call a school national and then claim it belongs to one region. That kind of thinking has no place in modern Kenya,” he said, adding that leaders who propagate such views are out of touch with the country’s future.

Mbadi urged Kenyans to reject politics anchored on regional identity, saying the country’s progress depends on unity, inclusion, and equal opportunity for all.

Mbadi pledges ODM loyalty

Turning to party politics, the Treasury CS reaffirmed his loyalty to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), stressing that respect for party leadership has been central to the party’s endurance and relevance.

“My party remains ODM. We are working with UDA, but our political home is ODM,” Mbadi said.

He said ODM’s strength has historically been built on discipline and respect for its leadership structures, calling on party members to rally behind the current leadership to strengthen the party.

“There is no perfect leader. Our responsibility as a party is to support, strengthen, and protect our leadership so that ODM remains a strong national political force,” he said.

ODM’s strategy

Mbadi added that ODM’s current political strategy involves cooperation with President William Ruto’s administration, describing the approach as necessary for national stability and effective governance.

He maintained that cooperation, rather than confrontation, offers the party a viable pathway to influencing national leadership and policy direction.

The CS further claimed that residents of the Nyanza region have already expressed support for President Ruto’s re-election bid, dismissing narratives suggesting growing political alternatives based on regional alignments.