Senators have once again expressed their frustration over the repeated absence of Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi from the Senate plenary sessions.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei was at the forefront of this concern, accusing Mbadi of undermining the Senate’s oversight role by constantly deferring his appearances.
The tension unfolded during a heated sitting on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, when the CS failed to show up for questioning, sparking sharp reactions from lawmakers who demanded accountability.
Cherargei expressed disappointment that Mbadi had made it a habit to skip sessions, despite being summoned to respond to key financial and economic issues affecting the country.
He urged the Speaker to take decisive action against the Treasury CS, reminding the House that similar behaviour had been witnessed before.
According to Cherargei, such repeated deferments were not only disrespectful but also violated the Senate’s standing orders.
“The CS was supposed to appear, and if my memory serves me right, he has requested many deferments for far too long,” the Senator stated, insisting that the Treasury boss had crossed the line of acceptable conduct for a public officer.
The Speaker confirmed that Mbadi had indeed sent a written apology, requesting that his question time be postponed to a later date. The apology, according to the Speaker, was received through the right channel and within the required timeframe, having been submitted 24 hours earlier.
However, this explanation did not sit well with several senators who felt that the timing of the apology was suspicious and inconsiderate to the House’s schedule.
Cherargei argued that the Treasury CS’s decision to postpone on the same morning he was expected to appear was in poor taste, especially when other Cabinet Secretaries such as Geoffrey Ruku and Hanna Cheptumo had honoured their commitments earlier that day.
“For Mbadi to request in the morning when he knew he needed to be here is uncalled for. He is one of the experts, and we need his expert opinion on very important issues we seek to know,” Cherargei lamented, emphasizing the importance of accountability and consistency in government communication with the Senate.
Supporting Cherargei’s sentiments, Kitui Senator Enock Wambua and others joined in calling for firm action.
They demanded that Mbadi be compelled to appear before the House without fail in the following week.
Cherargei proposed that the Speaker issue a directive to ensure the Treasury CS faces the senators’ questions on matters of national finance and public spending.
“We demand that you direct that he appear without fail by Wednesday next week to answer the questions we have raised. We had given him seven days to appear; if he knew he would not appear, he could have given us adequate notice, and we could have rescheduled the business of the House. You have to tell the minister that his apology is not accepted,” he declared.
The frustration among senators reflects a growing impatience with Cabinet Secretaries who evade accountability sessions under the pretext of scheduling conflicts.
Lawmakers insist that the CS must be available to clarify pressing national concerns rather than send apologies at the last minute. The Senate now awaits the Speaker’s directive on whether Mbadi will be compelled to appear as demanded, as pressure mounts for greater transparency and respect for parliamentary oversight.
