THE END OF ORWOBA: SENATE SPEAKER OFFICIALLY DECLARES SENATOR ORWOBA’S SEAT VACANT

UDA PARTY EXPELLED GLORIA ORWOBA FROM THE RULING PARTY

SHE IS ACCUSED OF GROSS MISCONDUCT AND VIOLATING PARTY CONSTITUTION

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has declared a vacancy in the seat held by nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba, effective from May 21, 2025. The announcement was made through a gazette notice issued on Wednesday, following Orwoba’s expulsion from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) over allegations of gross misconduct and breaches of the party’s constitution and code of conduct.

“It is notified for the general information of the public that pursuant to Article 101 (2) of the Constitution of Kenya, a seat of the Member of the Senate elected under Article 98 (1) (b) of the Constitution, held by Senator Gloria Orwoba, has become vacant with effect from the 21st May, 2025,” it reads.

The embattled nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba has lost her position in the Senate after Speaker Amason Jeffah Kingi officially declared her seat vacant.

“It is apparent that the applicant has added new parties who are not in the original petition and without seeking the leave of this Court to amend the petition,” he stated in his ruling.

“The application is incompetent and is rejected,” reads the ruling in part

In a Gazette Notice dated May 21, 2025, Speaker Kingi announced the vacancy in accordance with Article 101(2) of the Constitution, following the invocation of Article 98(1)(b), which pertains to members elected to represent special interests.

“Pursuant to Article 29 of the UDA Party Constitution, and having exhaustively deliberated on the matters before it, the Party’s Disciplinary Committee has resolved that Senator Gloria Orwoba be expelled from the membership of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party with immediate effect,” the statement reads.

The former nominated senator has been facing mounting pressure following disciplinary proceedings by her sponsoring party uda, which led to her expulsion over alleged misconduct.

Orwoba is accused of gross misconduct and violating the party’s constitution and code of conduct. The uda party accused her of making public statements that harmed the party’s image and repeatedly failing to respond to disciplinary charges.

That it is apparent that the applicant has added new parties who are not in the original petition and without seeking the leave of this court to amend the petition. The Application is incompetent and is rejected. Previous directions are maintained,” the Judge ruled.

Her expulsion from the ruling party was fuel by her participation in the homecoming events for former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i, in kisii and Nyamira Counties on 2nd of May 2025.

UDA viewed her involvement in the events, along with her public criticism of government policies, as acts of disloyalty and a breach of party ideals.

“While the UDA Party upholds the values of freedom of expression and association as enshrined in the Constitution of Kenya 2010, fidelity and loyalty to Party ideals are fundamental to its constitution and to further consolidate our multiparty politics by strengthening political parties.

“Gloria Orwoba cannot, therefore, continue to play for two political teams simultaneously,” the statement concluded.

Orwoba was further dealt a blow after the legal challenge against the expulsion was dismissed by the High Court in Nairobi, with Justice Lawrence Mugambi ruling that the application was incompetent.