Public attention has been drawn to the grassroots engagements of Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi after a Facebook narration by Sirkwach Rakido highlighted his informal interactions with residents in Suba South, where he is said to move freely between markets, villages, and social gatherings.
Rakido’s account paints a picture of a leader who maintains close contact with his constituency despite holding a senior national office.
In his post, he writes that Mbadi’s presence in local trading centres rarely causes surprise among residents, who are accustomed to seeing him interact without ceremony.
“To someone who doesn’t come from Suba South, this might look like a PR gimmick. It is not,” Rakido states in the narration, setting the tone for his description of the CS’s movements within his home turf.
According to the post, Mbadi is frequently seen visiting places such as Oyuma (locally referred to as God Oloo), where he is said to sit with elderly residents at small trading centres.
Rakido describes these moments as informal gatherings where the Cabinet Secretary engages in everyday conversations while residents go about their routines.
“He can randomly and unannounced sit down with wazees at a small trading centre near his home in Oyuma, chatting like an ordinary son of the soil as they sip soda on market benches,” the post reads.
The narration further highlights interactions in Kijebi market, where Mbadi is said to mingle with traders, including mama mbogas, who continue with their evening activities as he greets them individually.
Rakido notes that such encounters are often met with warmth and familiarity from locals who consider him one of their own.
“Elderly women hug him and thank him for one or two things he has done for them over the years,” he adds, describing a pattern of personal recognition from residents.
Rakido also recounts accompanying the CS to Wiga Village, where a family had lost both a mother and a son.
The visit, according to the post, turned into a moment of communal reflection, with residents sharing experiences and expressing gratitude for assistance Mbadi had previously extended to young people in accessing employment opportunities.
“It was then that I realized just how many educated Luos CS Mbadi has helped find meaningful opportunities in government service,” the narration states.
The post also describes cultural gestures during such visits, including occasions where Mbadi is offered traditional porridge. Rakido quotes locals saying, “Madhie nyuka miheroni, John,” loosely inviting him to take his favourite uji.