John Mbadi, the Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury, is a man currently enjoying zero peace after Kenyans took to social media to vent their anger following his daughter’s graduation abroad.
On Tuesday, September 9, 2025, Mbadi proudly shared that he and his wife, Roda, had attended the conferment of their daughter Natalie Mbadi, who graduated with a Master’s of Law in Labour and Employment Law at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
“Alongside my wife Roda, we had the honour to witness the conferment of our daughter Natalie Mbadi, who graduated with a Master’s of Law in Labour and Employment Law at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
“Seeing her match on the aisle, up the rostrum invoked silent tears of parental love,” Mbadi wrote.
CS John Mbadi during daughter’s gradution. Photo: John Mbadi Source: Facebook.
Why Kenyans are angry
The celebratory post, meant to showcase a father’s pride, quickly ignited backlash because it came at a time when Kenya’s education sector is in crisis.
Under Mbadi’s leadership at the Treasury, the government has delayed disbursement of capitation funds to schools and proposed budget cuts to universities, sparking concerns over the future of higher education in Kenya.
Many Kenyans accused the CS of hypocrisy, noting that while he has declared free primary and secondary education unsustainable, he can comfortably fund international education for his own family.
Comments under his post painted a picture of rage and frustration, with critics saying his joy was a stark reminder of the widening inequality gap between political elites and ordinary families struggling to keep children in underfunded public schools.
CS John Mbadi source BOG TVET
The backlash did not stop at Kenya’s borders. Social media users drew parallels to protests in Nepal, where citizens have in the past erupted against leaders flaunting their children’s overseas education while neglecting local institutions.
Analysts argue that Mbadi’s case has rekindled debates around elite privilege, government accountability, and whether Kenya’s education system is being deliberately weakened to benefit private and foreign universities.
From X (formerly Twitter) to Facebook, Kenyans flooded timelines with memes, angry threads, and biting criticism.
One user wrote, “Our schools have no chalk, no desks, no teachers, but Treasury CS flies to Melbourne for his daughter’s graduation. This is the Kenya we live in.”
National Treasury CS John Mbadi gestures during a past meeting. Photo: John Mbadi Source: Facebook
Another added, “We are told education is unsustainable, yet your family enjoys the best globally. Mbadi, practice what you preach.”
The outrage has now become a trending topic, with hashtags like #MbadiHypocrisy and #EducationCrisisKenya gaining traction.
While many acknowledged that Mbadi has a right to celebrate his daughter’s success, the timing and optics of his message left Kenyans feeling betrayed.
The episode has turned a deeply personal family milestone into a national conversation on fairness, equity, and leadership responsibility.
As pressure mounts, political observers believe Mbadi will have to respond more directly to the criticism, especially as the education funding debate continues to dominate public discourse.
