A chopper carrying Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi (inset) before landing in Chiga, Kisumu County on January 17, 2024. On the right is Energy and Petroleum CS Opiyo Wandayi.
Before their appointment to the Cabinet in July last year, the sky around Luo Nyanza was relatively calm.
There were minimal activities around the lake region’s airspace save for the commercial aircraft landing and taking off from the Kisumu International Airport and Kabunde Airstrip in Homa Bay County.
However, no sooner had they taken oaths of office than National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi and his Energy counterpart Opiyo Wandayi took to the skies— traversing the expansive Luo Nyanza region in helicopters, ostensibly to inspect government projects.
Helicopter traffic has since increased significantly as private choppers carrying the two Cabinet secretaries dominate the airspace, more so over the weekends.
Mr Wandayi and Mr Mbadi use the helicopters not only to execute official duties but also to attend events, including funerals, in their villages.
Initially, Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Performance and Delivery Management in the Executive Office of the President Eliud Owalo was the notable senior government official known to fly around lakeside skies in a chopper.
While serving as ICT and Digital Economy Cabinet secretary, Mr Owalo broke the record as the first man to cross a road in a helicopter after he flew from Maseno School to Maseno University’s College Campus for a meeting with the vice-chancellor.
He would use different helicopters, including a military aircraft, to traverse the region. Mr Mbadi and Mr Wandayi seem to have caught the bug of high-flying lifestyle and have since abandoned the roads for the skies.
On Friday, the duo used three helicopters to travel to Manyala Village in Suba South to launch last-mile electricity projects.
The choppers stirred the sleepy village as some residents stared at the crafts they only hear roaring in the skies.
On December 6,2024 Mr Mbadi attended a funeral in Pundo Village in Suba South before flying to Nyakiamo Stadium in Sindo Town, about 12 kilometers away, for the closing ceremony of the Suba Lowlands Tournament.
On December 17,2024 he once again flew to Ndhiwa sub-County to attend a stakeholders meeting.
Meanwhile Mr Wandayi landed in Migori Town on December 6,2024 to grace the second edition of Sigand Nyinam Convention. The CS later flew to Homa Bay town to commission a solar power mini-grid at Ngodhe and Takawiri Islands.
Unlike Mr Owalo, who was criticised for wasting public resources, the two CSs new mode of transport appears to receive endorsement from some quarters.
A chopper carrying Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi (inset) before landing in Chiga, Kisumu County on January 17, 2024.
Suba Central Council of Elders Secretary Joab Ikawa said the visit by the CSs to Suba South in three helicopters was a clear sign of power.
“Their arrival brought a lot of excitement to residents. People have never seen government officials arriving in this kind of style,” he said.
Mr Ikawa said the arrival also confirmed that the two State officials have the full support of President William Ruto.
Mr William Odhiambo, a resident of Manyala Village, said he has never witnessed his home village being visited by leaders in helicopters.
“We have now committed to support the current government so that we can continue witnessing such events,” he said.
Before landing in Suba South, the Treasury CS had presided over a function in Kakamega County before flying to Kisumu County for another engagement.
Mr Mbadi and Mr Wandayi join Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who also prefer to travel in helicopters while visiting the lake region.
Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang'o in her 2024 closing year implementation review report revealed how dozens of State institutions, including President Ruto's office, defied the austerity directive before the ink had dried on Head of Public Service Felix Koskei's memo.
That defiance, she noted, cost taxpayers a total of Sh30 billion in the last 15 months alone.
Ms Nyakang'o says the national government spent Sh27.34 billion in the 2023/24 financial year on local and foreign travel, compared to Sh20.37 billion recorded in the 2022/23 financial year.
