On Saturday, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi refuted allegations by Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba, who claimed Ksh1.5 billion intended for coffee farmers was misused by the exchequer.
In his statement, Mbadi dismissed the claims as misleading, assuring that no funds had been mishandled. He clarified that the Treasury had rejected a request from the Ministry of Cooperatives to transfer the Coffee Cherry Advance Funds to one of its departments.
This rejection, according to Mbadi, was due to the request not meeting the required approval conditions.
“The Treasury received the request and advised the State Department for Cooperatives to ensure the Ksh1.5 billion remained allocated to its original purpose,” Mbadi explained. He further emphasized that the decision complied with the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act and relevant Treasury guidelines.
National Treasury CS John Mbadi. Source: Facebook
Mbadi stressed that the funds were still available to support coffee farmers, as initially intended, and reiterated the Treasury’s commitment to transparency and accountability. He urged the media and public to report responsibly on such matters to avoid unnecessary panic.
“The National Treasury remains open to providing clarifications to ensure the public is well-informed with accurate information,” Mbadi stated, adding that misinformation could harm the integrity of the country’s financial systems.
Githunguri MP Hon Gathoni Wamuchomba engages supporters during a past meeting. Photo: The Star Source: Facebook
This comes amid growing scrutiny over the management of public funds, with Mbadi reassuring that all disbursements strictly follow the law and budgetary processes.
The CS noted that disseminating false information undermined the integrity of the country’s financial systems and could cause unnecessary public concern.
“The National Treasury is always available to clarify any questions or provide further details to ensure that the public is well-informed with factual information,” the CS noted.
