Embattled Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba has vowed to return to the Senate despite her replacement being sworn in on Wednesday. Speaking during a roundtable discussion on Thursday, Orwoba insisted that she still holds her seat following the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal’s ruling that dismissed her expulsion from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
“Unless anything changes, I am going to the Senate, and I am the nominated senator. I know that she might also believe that she is, that’s good for her,” Orwoba said in reference to her replacement, who officially took the oath of office in a ceremony presided over by Senate Speaker Amason Kingi.
Her defiance comes amid a dramatic twist after the Tribunal ordered UDA to reinstate her, citing irregularities and lapses in the disciplinary proceedings that had led to her removal. The ruling effectively threw the party into a legal and political quandary, with two individuals now laying claim to the same seat.
Orwoba maintained that her fight is not merely personal but rooted in a larger quest for justice and constitutional order. “It’s not about the party. You have to fight to make sure we stop the impunity, injustice, and unconstitutional behaviours we are seeing left, right and centre. This is about the fundamental basis of having a country that works,” she stated.
The Senator also dismissed suggestions that her nomination was a political favour from President William Ruto. “People say President Ruto gave me that position. I want to make it clear, he never gave me that position. I worked hard for it. I was arrested several times for being associated with Ruto. I earned this position,” she said, adding that if UDA wants her removed, the party must follow the right procedures.
Although she did not disclose the exact day she will step back into the Senate, Orwoba made it clear that she will not walk away quietly. Her determination sets the stage for a potentially protracted political battle, with UDA and the Senate leadership now faced with the daunting task of resolving the standoff.
