John Mbadi defends soda consumption claim as economic indicator

Kenya's Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has defended his controversial claim that increased soda consumption serves as evidence of an improving economy. Mbadi stated that he used the analogy because citizens often find traditional financial indicators, such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), foreign exchange, and inflation rates, difficult to relate to their personal finances.

Mbadi argued that soda is a luxury item that consumers only purchase when they have disposable income. To support his position, he cited a local bank report showing that non-performing loans dropped from 13 percent to 9 percent, suggesting increased liquidity and an improved ability for citizens to meet financial obligations.

The remarks drew criticism from Senator John Methu, Secretary General of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), who dismissed the argument as “infertile.” Methu challenged the Cabinet Secretary to provide more substantive evidence of economic growth rather than relying on analogies.