MBADI, OPARANYA ORDERED TO APPEAR BEFORE SENATE TODAY OR RISK FINE, JAIL

Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi and his Cooperatives and MSMEs counterpart Wycliffe Oparanya have been ordered to appear before the Senate Committee on Labour and Social Welfare today, Wednesday, August 20, 2025, or face hefty penalties.
The two Cabinet Secretaries have repeatedly failed to honour summons by the committee, which is probing long-standing disputes over unpaid pensions, terminal benefits, and cooperative savings deductions.
According to the Senate, Oparanya has ignored at least seven invitations, including one on August 4, to address claims of unpaid terminal benefits for former Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC) employees and delayed remittances to Maziwa Sacco.
Mbadi, on his part, has skipped eight summons since August 2024 over the delayed payment of pensions to retired Kenya Railways staff. His most recent request for a postponement on August 4 was rejected by the committee.
The Senate has directed both Cabinet Secretaries to appear in person at Parliament Buildings at 10 a.m. today or submit the required documentation.
Failure to comply will expose them to punishment under the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act, which provides for a fine of up to Ksh200,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or both.