CS Mbadi draws online backlash after citing rising soda consumption as economic progress

Mbadi argued that increased demand for sodas could suggest that households have some money left after meeting their basic needs.

“Soft drinks consumption has gone up in this country. Soft drink. Do you know what that tells you? Who takes sodas? Sodas people take when they have left a little more in their pockets,” Mbadi.

The Treasury Cabinet Secretary made the remarks while responding to criticism of the government’s economic performance and defending the administration’s record since taking office.

Mbadi said the government had made progress in stabilising an economy that he described as being close to tipping when the Kenya Kwanza administration assumed office.

"If it is economy, actually we should be called to be celebrated. Some of us should be given awards in this country. Because we have removed Kenya to where it—it was almost tipping,” he said.

He also accused some of President Ruto’s critics of opposing the administration primarily on ethnic grounds rather than because of its economic policies.

“The truth is most of these people are fighting Ruto on ethnic grounds. Not on economy,” Mbadi said.

While the government maintains that it has stabilised the economy and improved key economic indicators, critics argue that such gains have not translated into significant relief for households facing high living costs.

Mbadi also announced that the government is preparing additional measures intended to ease the financial burden on Kenyans.

He said a Bill would be introduced in Parliament by the end of September as part of efforts to fulfil President Ruto’s promise to provide relief to citizens.

“End of September, you will see a bill in Parliament. We are trying to manage, see how to give some relief to Kenyans,” Mbadi said.

The Treasury CS dismissed suggestions that the President’s commitment would not be implemented, saying his ministry would take the necessary steps on behalf of the government.

“You think that promise by the President will not be acted on? Mbadi is going to implement it on behalf of the Government of Kenya and on behalf of President Ruto,” he said.

Mbadi's comments immediately spurred a reaction from Kenyans on X, with many blasting him for the rudimentary mentality, arguing that such inane sentiments should not come from a man in charge of the nation's economy.

"Oh, this is the ODM expert they were talking about? He could have used GDP per capita, HDI, poverty rate, Median Household Income... A whole Cabinet Secretary btw, measuring the economic status of a country with soda consumption? Wild!" someone wrote on X.

Another commenter wrote: "World Bank's economic indicators: Real GDP per capita. Personal and consumer income. Employment / nonfarm payrolls and unemployment rate. Industrial production. Gross Domestic Product (GDP). John Mbadi's economic indicator? Number of Coca-Cola bottles Kenyans drink!"

On his part Brian Kariu said: "You cannot try being clever about economics taking only one consumption data is not an indicator of the health of the economy. Take all economic consumption markers: power consumption, petrol consumption, cement and steel consumption, vehicle sales. They are all in decline."

While Mbadi cited increased soft-drink consumption as evidence of improved purchasing power, he did not provide specific data during his remarks showing that the reported increase was directly attributable to higher household disposable incomes.

Consumption patterns can be influenced by several factors, including pricing, population growth, product availability and changing consumer preferences.