Treasury CS John Mbadi is expected to join President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) in what sources describe as a strategic move to secure his reappointment to the Cabinet after the 2027 general election.
According to insiders, Mbadi’s defection from ODM follows weeks of intense pressure from UDA, which has been pushing ODM-affiliated Cabinet Secretaries to align themselves with them. Mbadi’s decision is a shocker to ODM given his long-standing affiliation with the party.
There are claims that Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho and Devolution Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya have also been under similar pressure to abandon ODM.
The three were picked from ODM as part of President Ruto’s broad-based government.
CS Mbadi’s departure comes at a time when ODM appears divided over its stance toward President Ruto’s administration.
While some members have signaled a willingness to cooperate with UDA in 2027, others remain firmly opposed to any form of collaboration with William Ruto.
Earlier in the week, Suna East MP Junet Mohamed alleged that the government was coercing ODM members serving in the Cabinet to defect to UDA.
He claimed that the pressure was part of a broader plan to weaken ODM ahead of 2027.
