Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has taken issue with former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i and other opposition politicians calling for the rejection of the Finance Bill, accusing them of misleading Kenyans without offering solutions.
Speaking during a Town Hall meeting on Wednesday evening, May 20, 2026 Mbadi said leaders urging citizens to reject the Finance Bill should first explain the specific clauses they oppose instead of making blanket political statements.
“If there is a problem with the Finance Bill, let us point it out and remove it. But it is careless and reckless to incite people to go to the streets to oppose and reject a Finance Bill without telling them what is wrong with that Bill,” Mbadi said.
Mbadi criticized politicians campaigning against the Bill, saying they were failing to provide alternative proposals while seeking public support.
“I have a problem with politicians out there telling Kenyans to reject the Finance Bill without saying what is wrong with it,” he stated.
The CS directly referenced Matiang’i, reminding him of his role in former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration.
“You were a minister in Uhuru’s government and, my friend Matiang’i, you passed 10 Finance Bills, many of them with problems that hurt Kenyans. Now you are saying ‘reject’ without offering alternatives, and you want to be president? Is that how you want to run this country? Unless you are not serious,” Mbadi said.
The CS said it is a pity for a person seeking the highest office in the land to be inciting Kenyans insted of offering solutions.
“It is careless, it is reckless, and it is a clear demonstration that you are not mature enough to lead this country,” he added.
Matiang’i had earlier Wednesday in a press conference called on Kenyans to reject the proposed Finance Bill, arguing that it contains punitive clauses targeting ordinary earners and struggling households.
Mbadi defended the current Bill, saying it was developed after public consultations and could still be amended based on feedback from Kenyans.
“This particular Bill is a response to people’s public participation. The moment we get feedback from Kenyans, the National Assembly will introduce amendments to the clauses that Kenyans have a problem with,” he said.
The Finance Bill debate continues to trigger political divisions, with government officials defending the proposals as necessary for economic stability while critics argue that some measures could increase the burden on citizens already struggling with the high cost of living.
