Orwoba defiant after UDA expulsion
In a series of Facebook posts, Orwoba dismissed the actions against her as a distraction and suggested they were part of a larger political plan.
Nominated United Democratic Alliance Senator Gloria Orwoba has vowed to continue fighting for her seat, hours after the High Court suspended a decision by the party to expel her and declare her Senate seat vacant.
Justice Lawrence Mugambi of the Milimani Law Courts on Wednesday issued a temporary order stopping both the UDA disciplinary committee’s decision of May 16 to expel Orwoba and a gazette notice dated May 21 that announced her removal from the Senate.
The court gave the orders pending the hearing and determination of a petition she filed on May 20 under a certificate of urgency.
In a series of Facebook posts, Orwoba dismissed the actions against her as a distraction and suggested they were part of a larger political plan.
Without naming names, she said the campaign to remove her is being driven by people close to the presidency.
"So, do not be confused by the noise... the point of this exercise is not to win the ‘battle’, the point of this exercise is to introduce you to the ‘war’ that will be won in the near future," she wrote.
She added, "Also, for avoidance of doubt, yes, I’m upset and angered, but I’m unhinged and completely relieved because my teammates know that the bell has rung and time is up."
The first-term senator also referred to a meeting of Ukambani leaders at State House, saying, "So don’t ask me why they are so ruthless with me...The panic is real."
Orwoba’s troubles began after she attended the homecoming events of former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i at JKIA and Gusii Stadium.
Matiang’i, a key opposition figure and a potential 2027 presidential candidate, is seen as a critic of the UDA administration led by President William Ruto.
On May 19, the UDA National Executive Committee upheld the decision of the disciplinary committee to remove Orwoba from the party.
The party said she had shown disloyalty by publicly criticising government policies and associating with opposition leaders.
UDA stated that while it respects constitutional rights such as freedom of expression and association, loyalty to party ideals is a key expectation of its members.
Orwoba, however, defended her actions, saying her attendance at Matiang’i’s events was based on personal and community ties, not political alignment.
"I come from a community. We have social friends. How many people have you seen going to social events? Social events are bipartisan, a homecoming is bipartisan," she said.
"By the way, Matiang’i is my relative as we speak," she added during a press conference on May 16 outside Hustler Plaza, where she presented a court order halting her disciplinary hearing.
