Senator Orwoba Officially Loses Senate Seat After Speaker Kingi Declares Vacancy

Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba has lost her position in the Kenyan Senate following her expulsion from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party. Senate Speaker Amason Kingi officially declared her seat vacant in a Kenya Gazette notice published today, marking the end of Orwoba’s tenure.

The UDA party expelled Senator Orwoba on May 19, 2025, following accusations that she contravened the party’s Code of Conduct.

According to a statement by UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar, the party’s Disciplinary Committee resolved to terminate her membership with immediate effect.

“Pursuant to Article 29 of the UDA Party Constitution, and having exhaustively deliberated on the matters before it, the Party’s Disciplinary Committee has resolved that Senator Gloria Orwoba be expelled from the membership of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party with immediate effect,” reads the statement.

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party adopted and ratified this decision during its meeting on the same day. Following the expulsion, the UDA party has formally notified both the Registrar of Political Parties (RPP) and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

The gazettement of the vacancy comes after Justice Lawrence Mugambi rejected Orwoba’s attempt to block her expulsion from the Senate, citing procedural issues in her legal challenge.

Prior to her expulsion, Senator Orwoba had presented a court order to UDA seeking to stop the disciplinary action against her. However, the party proceeded with the process, leading to her removal.

The UDA party has already nominated Consolata Wabwire Wakwabubi from Kimilili Constituency, Bungoma County, to fill the vacancy left by Orwoba. The party has written to the Senate Speaker to initiate the formal process of Orwoba’s removal and subsequent replacement.

The disciplinary action against Orwoba stemmed from a complaint filed by Festus Omwamba and Henry Muriithi (Disciplinary Complaint No. 2 of 2025).

While specific details of the complaint were not fully disclosed in the party’s statement, reports indicate tensions arose after Orwoba attended former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i’s homecoming event.

When questioned about her attendance at the event, Orwoba defended her actions.

This led to further friction with the party, culminating in her summons to appear before the disciplinary committee at the Hustler Centre, where she arrived wearing a UDA party polo T-shirt.

In justifying the expulsion, Secretary General Omar stated that while the UDA Party upholds the values of freedom of expression and association as enshrined in the Constitution of Kenya 2010, “fidelity and loyalty to Party ideals are fundamental.”

The statement further clarified that Senator Orwoba “cannot continue to play for two political teams simultaneously,” suggesting that her actions were viewed as contradictory to the party’s interests and direction.

With the seat now officially vacant, the IEBC is expected to begin the process of confirming Wakwabubi’s nomination in accordance with electoral laws.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​