John Mbadi Shocking Claim: There’s No Difference Between UDA’s Bottom-Up Model and ODM’s Philosophy
In a surprising twist, John Mbadi, the ex-chairman of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), has made a statement that could significantly impact Kenya’s political scene.
During a recent vetting session, Mbadi claimed that the core principles of ODM and the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) are almost identical. This bold statement has left political analysts and committee members in shock.
Mbadi’s remarks were in response to a question from Suna East MP Junnet Mohammed, a member of the Parliamentary Vetting Committee led by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula.
The session, initially intended to assess Mbadi’s suitability for his new role as National Treasury Secretary under President William Ruto, took an unexpected turn when Mbadi began discussing the ideological similarities between ODM and UDA.
The discussion centered around the “Bottom Up Agenda,” a key aspect of President Ruto’s administration. Mbadi, known for his keen political insights, stated, “Bottom Up is a concept of UDA. If you look at the philosophy of UDA and ODM there is no difference.”
His claim that both parties essentially promote social democracy surprised many.
Further elaborating, Mbadi pointed out that the Beta Concept—another initiative championed by UDA—focuses on job creation, reducing the cost of living, enhancing agricultural productivity, and advancing the digital economy.
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“Look at Beta, what is it about? It is about job creation. It is about the cost of living. It is about agricultural productivity. It talks about the digital economy,” he stated.
For those used to Kenya’s polarized political narratives, Mbadi’s comments might seem groundbreaking. The former ODM chair, also a trained accountant, drew comparisons between the Beta Concept and ODM’s manifesto.
He argued that both ideologies prioritize value addition in agriculture, though they use different terms.
“The Beta Concept is on value addition. Now ODM manifesto which I participated in drafting we had manufacturing emphasising Agriculture. But now Beta is about agriculture for value addition. ODM, agriculture for manufacturing. Semantics,” Mbadi remarked.
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The vetting committee’s reaction ranged from disbelief to amusement. The idea that two of Kenya’s major political parties could share such fundamental ideological similarities was met with laughter and incredulity.
Mbadi is one of four nominees from opposition leader Raila Odinga in the ‘broad-based’ government. Kenyans have expressed skepticism about how the opposition will function within the Cabinet.
However, Mbadi reassured me, “There is the Constitution and Public Finance Management Act that will guide my conduct in office.”
John Mbadi Shocking Claim: There’s No Difference Between UDA’s Bottom-Up Model and ODM’s Philosophy
