Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has thrown a political curveball by declaring his presidential ambition for 2032, while swearing undying loyalty to President Ruto for the next term.

In a bold declaration that has sent ripples through the political waters, John Mbadi has mapped out his future, and it ends at State House—just not yet. Speaking in Homa Bay, the Treasury CS categorically stated that he will support President William Ruto’s re-election in 2027, but come 2032, his name will be on the ballot. This "wait and see" strategy is designed to balance his current duties in the Kenya Kwanza government with his long-term aspirations within the ODM party structure.

The ODM Civil War

Mbadi’s announcement was not just a personal roadmap; it was a missile aimed at his internal detractors, specifically ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna. The two leaders are currently locked in a bitter war of words over the party's direction and its cooperation with the government.

• The Attack on Sifuna: Mbadi accused Sifuna of being a "conflicted" leader who is "selling the agenda of someone else." He questioned Sifuna’s loyalty, suggesting the Nairobi Senator is undermining the broad-based government arrangement that Raila Odinga himself sanctioned.
• Defending the Alliance: "Raila left us in broad-based government," Mbadi reminded the crowd. He argued that working with Ruto is a strategic necessity for stability and development, dismissing critics who view it as a betrayal of opposition values.
• The Trusteeship Claim: In a bizarre twist, Mbadi claimed that Sifuna does not even possess the party's registration certificate or key documents, asserting that power lies with the trustees, not the Secretary-General.

A Long Game

Mbadi’s strategy is clear: position himself as the mature, government-aligned successor to the current leadership. By backing Ruto for 2027, he buys political capital and protection. By declaring for 2032, he signals to his Nyanza base that he has not abandoned the dream of the presidency, merely postponed it.

However, the rift with Sifuna exposes deep fractures within the Orange party. As the "broad-based" government experiment continues, ODM finds itself in an identity crisis—part government, part opposition. Mbadi represents the faction that has fully embraced the handshake with Ruto, while Sifuna represents the restless base that feels unmoored.

"If you are not ready, step aside," Mbadi warned his rivals. The race for 2032 has seemingly begun before the race for 2027 has even started, and John Mbadi has fired the starting gun.