The funeral service of the late Kasipul Member of Parliament Charles Ong’ondo Were was characterised by high-octane politics pitting the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) members.

Among those who used the platform to speak their minds in regard to the ODM’s future and their status in the broad-based government were Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi.

To get the ground running, Mbadi informed the mourners that he was putting his best foot forward while serving President William Ruto to demonstrate to Kenyans and the entire world what former Prime Minister Raila Odinga could have delivered if he had ascended to power in 2022.

Mbadi stated he found the Kenyan economy in bad shape. However, he noted, through his expertise, the country was slowly becoming stable.

“I found this economy in bad shape. It is not a joke; it was bad. But the reason why I am putting in my effort, apart from being patriotic, I wanted to demonstrate that if Raila Odinga became the president, these are the people we would have gone with in government, and these are the things he could have done,” Mbadi stated.

Confronts Sifuna

After explaining the economy’s status, Mbadi confronted ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna due to his constant criticism of the broad-based government arrangement.

While pledging his unwavering support for ODM, Mbadi asked Sifuna to go slow and allow those picked to serve the Kenya Kwanza administration to do it without being bothered.

“So if I am there, I expect a hundred per cent support from the party, starting from the secretary general, my brother Sifuna, please, I am a member of your party; I don’t belong to any other party, I belong to ODM,” Mbadi stated firmly.

“If I fail, there is no way 2027 you are talking about you will convince anyone that ODM can run a government,” he insisted.

MP Were's final journey
Hon. Mbadi: My brother Sifuna, please, I am a member of your party. I don't belong to any other party. If I fail, there is no way in 2027 you will convince anyone that ODM can run a govt. pic.twitter.com/80ZvJtvhvP

— K24 TV (@K24Tv) May 9, 2025

After his heated argument, Mbadi walked off the stage and was warmly embraced by Sifuna, sending a message of burying the hatchet.

Blast Mbadi

Recently, Sifuna slammed Mbadi after he failed to appear for a scheduled plenary session in the Senate.

CS Mbadi wrote to the Speaker of the Senate, Amason Kingi, on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, informing him that he was unable to attend the session as he had other official engagements.

Speaking on the floor of the house, Senator Sifuna called out Mbadi, saying he should have informed the house earlier that he would not be appearing.

“Yesterday, just before the game between Inter Milan and Barcelona, I saw CS for Treasury on Citizen TV. He has time to appear before Citizen TV, but he has no time to appear before this house.

“I refused to watch that interview and switched to the football match because I was expecting him here. The conversations that are important to me from that CS are the ones that happen here. The CSs must write on time to tell the house that they will not be showing up. If a CS insists on writing on the day before, that is absolute contempt, and they must be called out,” said Sifuna.