The Orange Democratic Movement Party (ODM) is not leaving the broad-based government any time soon, National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi says.

Speaking in President William Ruto’s home turf of Uasin Gishu county, Mbadi said they are in Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza-led government to stay, adding those prodding them to walk out were wasting their time.

“We are in the broad-based government and we are not leaving anytime soon as anticipated by our critics,” Mbadi, who is a former Nominated ODM party MP, said.

He praised Ruto for entrusting him with the National Treasury docket despite the fact that he did not support him in the last election, where his party was competing for power with the Kenya Kwanza coalition.

The CS said there was no leader in the ‘World’ who had taken a bold move like Ruto did when he appointed him to the crucial docket of the National Treasury despite coming from the Opposition.

“As you all know, with my position, there is no way the President will earn his salary without me appending my signature, including other State officers,” said an elated Mbadi.

He was speaking at AIC St Stephen’s church ground in Kapseret constituency, where host MP Oscar Sudi distributed a Ksh45 million equipment to the local youths.

The pieces of equipment that were distributed to the youths by the MP included hundreds of motorcycles, sewing machines, chip cutters, gas cookers, umbrellas, water tanks, and two public service vehicles.

Sudi clarified that the money used to purchase the equipment was raised from a fund drive from his colleagues in the National Assembly and the Senate, including two prominent businessmen from Tanzania, whom he termed as close friends.

“There is no single cent from the public coffer that was used to purchase the equipment that I want to distribute to the targeted youths in my area as part of the initiative to empower them socially and economically,” Sudi said.

The leaders led by CS gave personal donations ranging between Ksh200,000 and Ksh2 million towards the empowerment programme for youth in Kapseret sub-county as scores of ordinary citizens watched from a distance.

“Let me make it clear that there is no government money involved in this empowerment program that is meant to support the people of Kapseret constituency and even the CS for National Treasury has seen for himself,” Sudi stated.

He added: “This is purely from our own pockets and three friends of mine from Tanzania and together we managed to raise Ksh45 million towards the purchase of equipment to support local youths.”

Other leaders who attended the event were the Leader of Majority in the National Assembly, Kimani Ichung’wah, Nominated MP Sabina Chege, Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii and MP for Mathira Eric Wamumbi.