KEWOPA condemns treatment of Gloria Orwoba outside Parliament
KEWOPA urged authorities to respect court processes, uphold the rule of law, and ensure that all leaders are treated fairly regardless of their political affiliations.
The Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA) has strongly condemned the treatment of former Senator Gloria Orwoba outside Parliament on Wednesday, describing the incident as a violation of parliamentary decorum and an affront to the dignity of leaders.
In a statement on Thursday, KEWOPA urged authorities to respect court processes, uphold the rule of law, and ensure that all leaders are treated fairly regardless of their political affiliations.
“KEWOPA notes that all leaders, whether elected or nominated, deserve to be treated with dignity, fairness, and respect. We call upon all the relevant authorities to uphold the rule of law and ensure that due process is observed in this matter,” the Association said.
Orwoba was arrested outside Parliament on August 27 after she attempted to access the premises claiming she had court orders reinstating her to the Senate.
Security officers blocked her at the gate, seized her vehicle, and later detained her.
She spent the night at Central Police Station before being released on Thursday morning on a Sh10,000 cash bail.
She is scheduled to appear in court to face charges of creating a disturbance and obstructing justice.
Her arrest has triggered sharp reactions from political leaders. Samburu Senator Naisula Lesuuda accused authorities of applying double standards in handling the matter, pointing to similar cases in the past.
“Gloria Orwoba may have defied her party, but let’s not be hypocritical; many nominated senators in the last Parliament openly went against the parties that nominated them, opposing then-President Uhuru Kenyatta and his policies, yet served full terms. Two wrongs don’t make a right. What’s good for the goose must always be good for the gander, regardless of which side one is on. Tuwache selective amnesia! If it’s about the law, then read it and follow it regardless,” Lesuuda wrote on X.
Mumias East MP Peter Salasya also criticised the incident, noting that it took place as the country marked 15 years since the promulgation of the Constitution.
“As they are in KICC celebrating the Constitution, someone is not honouring court orders. This is absurd. Gloria Orwoba deserved better. I ask the Speaker of the Senate, Rt Hon Amason Kingi and the clerk of the Senate to obey the court orders waache ujeuri,” Salasya said on Facebook.
Orwoba’s expulsion from the UDA party in May and subsequent replacement by Consolata Wakwabubi was gazetted by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on August 15.
However, last week the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) nullified the expulsion, ruling that she was denied a fair hearing.
“There was no fair opportunity for hearing and the complainant was not furnished with the impugned decision,” the tribunal chaired by Desma Nungo stated.
