Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has declared that he is considering a presidential bid in the 2032 General Election, while firmly dismissing speculation that he plans to run in 2027.
He made the remarks during a public address on Sunday, saying his immediate focus remains on supporting the current administration and strengthening his party’s direction over the next election cycle.
Mbadi stated that he is prepared to work alongside President William Ruto through the 2027 election period and does not intend to challenge for the top seat at that time.
Instead, he positioned himself among leaders who may seek the presidency five years later. He argued that leadership transitions should be timed strategically and suggested that his own path points to 2032 rather than the upcoming contest.
During the meeting, the Cabinet Secretary also took a firm position on the internal direction of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
He criticized party figures who oppose cooperation with the Kenya Kwanza administration, saying such resistance weakens party unity and reduces its influence in national decision-making. According to him, collaboration with the government is the more practical path for now.
He insisted that ODM should stand behind President Ruto in the 2027 race, arguing that this approach aligns with what the party’s past top leadership would have supported.
Mbadi framed the cooperation as a strategic alliance rather than a surrender of identity, saying it allows the party to remain relevant and effective within the current political structure.
Mbadi went further and called for disciplinary action against Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, who serves as the party’s Secretary General and has been publicly critical of the ODM–government cooperation line. Mbadi argued that leaders who push conflicting positions from within the party create confusion and damage its negotiating strength.
He urged party organs to begin formal disciplinary steps against Sifuna and others who reject the collaboration stance.
He questioned Sifuna’s continued suitability for the secretary general role, claiming that the party has already restructured key administrative controls through trustees and no longer depends on one office holder for critical documents or authority.
His remarks signal a deepening internal split between factions that support working with the government and those that want the party to remain fully in opposition.
On the other side of the divide are several prominent ODM figures who have openly resisted closer ties with the current administration.
Among those frequently associated with that position are Senator Sifuna, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Siaya Governor James Orengo, and Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga. This group argues that cooperation risks diluting the party’s opposition identity and confusing its voter base.
Mbadi rejected suggestions that ODM could shift and formally join the opposition bloc linked to leaders such as former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
He maintained that there are no plans for such a move and that the party’s present course remains unchanged.
Politically, Mbadi’s statement does three things at once: it removes him from the crowded 2027 presidential speculation list, plants an early marker for 2032, and escalates the internal ODM power struggle.
Whether the 2032 signal is long-term strategy or early positioning depends on how alliances evolve after 2027. Right now, it’s a declaration of intent, not a campaign, but it clearly places him in the future succession conversation.
