Senator Orwoba Blasts Ruto for Failing Women

Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba has delivered a scathing assessment of President William Ruto’s administration, claiming it has failed to adequately protect and support women despite being nearly three years into its term.

In an interview on Spice FM Tuesday, the outspoken legislator painted a picture of a government that has sidelined women’s issues and those advocating for them, including herself.

“There are several women in government who feel let down by our government,” Orwoba stated firmly. “Two years in, things can still turn.”

The senator’s criticism comes against a backdrop of alarming statistics on gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide in Kenya

A January report revealed that at least 170 women were killed in 2024 alone—more than double the annual average of 85 cases recorded between 2016 and 2023.

While acknowledging President Ruto’s allocation of Sh100 million for GBV and femicide awareness, Orwoba characterized this as insufficient and poorly implemented.

“That money was shared amongst leaders to do sensitisation,” she explained, noting that at the time, Kenya didn’t even have a dedicated Ministry of Gender.

For Orwoba, meaningful change requires structural reforms rather than symbolic gestures. She outlined specific actions the President could take immediately to combat the rising tide of violence against women.

“We need the courts that deal with GBV to be empowered and to get more magistrates. He can equip them and push for a budget,” she urged.

“Additionally, we have gender desks in police stations, which are not functional. I’ve been pushing for them to be moved to hospitals to help speed up the process. He can make that happen from the top.”

The senator reserved particular criticism for the appointment of Hannah Cheptumo as Gender Cabinet Secretary, suggesting it reflects a broader disregard for women’s issues within the administration.

“There’s an assumption that the Gender docket doesn’t require any expertise. It has been used as a token, and that is unfortunate,” Orwoba stated bluntly.

In a surprising twist, she suggested that former Defense Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale might have been a more suitable choice. “In fact, Aden Duale should have been the Gender CS. Because what you’re telling us is we’re not looking for a subject matter expert.”

While acknowledging Cheptumo’s credentials as “a brilliant lawyer,” Orwoba was unequivocal in her assessment: “The truth is, she should not have been confirmed… she’s good in her field, but no!”

Political Isolation

The senator’s frustrations extend beyond policy issues to her personal experience within Kenya Kwanza government circles.

During the interview, she expressed disappointment at being sidelined by both the government and her party leader when attempting to champion women’s rights.

This isolation comes despite her consistent advocacy on gender issues, including her controversial appearance in Parliament in 2023 while visibly menstruating to highlight period poverty—a move that generated national conversation but also resulted in her removal from the Senate chambers.

Despite her harsh critique, Orwoba struck a note of cautious optimism, suggesting that the administration still has time to correct course.

“There is still time to do right by the people,” she concluded, implying that with proper focus and political will, the Ruto administration could yet deliver on its promises to Kenya’s women.

Political observers interpret her criticism as strategic. Orwoba was recently seen welcoming Fred Matiang’i—who is poised to challenge President Ruto in the 2027 elections—despite having received her Senate nomination from Ruto. This move is widely viewed as a deliberate alignment with Matiang’i and a distancing from the President.