Heated Rift Sparks Political Tension as Mbadi Hits Back at Sifuna Amid Clash Over Homa Bay Road

National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has fired back at Nairobi Senator and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna, after the legislator publicly criticised the condition of the Sindo road in Homa Bay County, prompting a fresh round of political sparring ahead of the 2027 election cycle.

The exchange unfolded after Senator Sifuna, speaking on Tuesday, December 30, at the funeral of former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo in Lumakanda, Kakamega County, explained his late arrival was due to poor road conditions on his way from Sindo with his family — a remark that drew laughter and attention from attendees.

In his remarks, Sifuna lamented the state of the road, saying he had been held up and joking that the Treasury seemed “asleep,” given that Mbadi oversees national funding.

On Wednesday, December 31, Mr. Mbadi hit back, taking to social media to dismiss Sifuna’s comments as unfair and politically motivated.

Without directly addressing the road’s condition, the Treasury CS framed his rebuke in broader political terms, suggesting that the Luo community — traditionally central in Kenya’s struggle for political liberation — should now emphasise economic empowerment rather than internal criticisms.

The statement was widely seen as a critique of Sifuna’s shifting political alliances and positions, rather than an engagement with the substance of the road issue.

The road in question is part of the Mbita–Sindo–Kiabuya–Sori Road project, a 74-kilometre infrastructure undertaking launched by President William Ruto in October 2023.

The project — expected to link key trading centres in Homa Bay and Migori counties — is designed to boost connectivity, ease transport of fish and farm produce, and improve access to schools and health services.

Government officials have previously highlighted its potential to catalyse economic activity in the Lake Victoria region, including tourism and agriculture.

The clash underscores simmering tensions within Kenya’s political landscape, particularly within ODM and across the broader political divide.

Sifuna’s comments at the funeral also included an apology to former President Uhuru Kenyatta for insults by some ODM leaders, highlighting internal party debates about political strategy and alliances.

For his part, Mbadi’s retort reflects a broader narrative espoused by some leaders aligned with the government, emphasising economic development and decrying what they see as unproductive political critique.