Embattled Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba has expressed regret over her decision to support the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, admitting she misinterpreted one of the key charges brought against him. Speaking during an interview on K24 on Thursday, Orwoba offered a candid reflection on her role in the divisive process that led to Gachagua’s removal from office.
“I do, I regret it,” she said when asked if she stood by her vote. Orwoba, who was a vocal supporter of the impeachment motion, has now revealed that her support hinged on a single charge among the 11 leveled against Gachagua one that she now concedes was misunderstood.
“The only count that was substantiated was the one involving a movement in his community and the ‘usiguze mlima’ remark. I was one of the people who misinterpreted it,” she said, referencing Gachagua’s controversial comment perceived by many as ethnically charged.
Orwoba noted that despite the volume of allegations, most of the charges lacked sufficient evidence. “The Senate failed to substantiate most of them,” she remarked, suggesting the decision to impeach may have been premature or politically motivated.
Her remarks signal a sharp departure from her earlier stance and come amid her own political struggles. The senator recently lost her seat after Senate Speaker Amason Jeffah Kingi declared her position vacant in a Gazette Notice dated May 21, 2025. The notice, issued in accordance with Article 101(2) of the Constitution, followed her expulsion from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.
However, Orwoba has since obtained a court order staying her removal, temporarily halting her exit from the Senate and keeping alive the debate over the legitimacy of her expulsion.
As the political dust continues to settle, Orwoba’s admission adds a new dimension to the impeachment saga, raising questions about the evidentiary standards applied and the long-term implications of partisan decision-making in Kenya’s Senate.
