Former United Democratic Alliance (UDA) nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba on Wednesday caused a stir at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi after she blocked the main entrance with her vehicle when security officers denied her access.
Orwoba, expelled from UDA in May and replaced by Consolata Wakwabubi, insisted the gazettement of her successor was illegal.
She claimed she had gone to Parliament to serve court papers challenging the move, sparking a confrontation that briefly disrupted entry to the Senate chambers.
In a video circulating online, the former senator is seen confronting female security officers and daring them to arrest her.
“You have gotten orders from above? I’m not leaving here. I’ll stay here till evening; I’ve come to work. Any officer who wants to come and arrest me, please arrest me,” she declared.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) had gazetted Wakwabubi on August 15 as UDA’s nominated senator following Orwoba’s expulsion from the party register.
Orwoba’s dismissal was linked to allegations of disloyalty, including her open support for former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i’s presidential ambitions.
UDA’s disciplinary committee also cited misconduct and violation of the party’s code of conduct before recommending her expulsion, which triggered the loss of her Senate seat.
IEBC chairperson Erastus Ethekon defended the replacement, stating it was done in line with electoral laws governing party-nominated positions.
The standoff outside Parliament caused a brief scene before security officers eventually restored order.
Discussion about this post