NAIROBI, Kenya – Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba can breathe a sigh of relief after the Senate reduced her suspension from 79 to 30 days.
The motion to vary the Senate’s resolution on the Committee of Powers and Privileges report regarding Senator Orwoba was moved by Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot.
Senator Cheruiyot observed that Senator Orwoba had come to her realisation that her conduct was not in line with whatever is expected of a senator and has since apologised to the House, and it is on record.
“I want to call upon the collective wisdom of colleagues and senators to consider reducing the sentence from 79 days, which is almost three months to have a colleague out of the precincts of Parliament, to 30 days, which is at least 30 days,” said Senator Cheruiyot.
How Senators Cheruiyot and Madzayo defended Orwoba
Senator Cheruiyot, who doubles as the House Majority Leader, said that Orwoba would have served the sentence, and even there, the final bid of his motion is that when she resumes, she will do other things that the motion that suspended her required her to do after the 79 days.
“So, actually, the only request that this senator is asking the colleagues is to pass in this House is to reduce from 79 to 30 days.
The motion was seconded by Senate Minority Leader Stewart Madzayo.
“The person who had wronged the Senate, and it was clear that she had wronged us, but she was remorseful and asked for forgiveness when she was found guilty. Every human being is in error, and every human being can either ask for permission or not. But our sister Senator Orwoba has asked for permission,” said Madzayo.
Majority Leader @Aaroncheruiyot (Kericho) moves a motion to vary the Senate’s resolution on the Committee of Powers and Privileges report regarding Sen. Gloria Orwoba, MP, reducing her suspension from 79 to 30 days. #SenateLive
The process of suspending Senator Gloria Orwoba
Earlier, Y News reported that Senator Orwoba was suspended for 79 days, with the suspension set to lapse on May 1, 2025.
This comes after the senator allied to the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party tried in vain to appeal the ruling in court.
Deputy Speaker Kathuri Murungi instructed the Senate Clerk to enforce the suspension order against Senator Orwoba in a message to the House on Wednesday, February 12, 2025.
“Taking note of the judgement delivered by the court on August 15, 2024, and the orders therein, Senator Gloria Orwoba shall now forthwith commence her suspension following the resolution of the Senate on September 20, 2023, and the report of the Powers and Privileges Committee on her conduct,” the Deputy Speaker ruled.
How Senator Gloria Orwoba apologised to her colleagues
After rejecting the senator’s attempt to prevent the Senate from suspending her from House business, the High Court maintained the Senate Powers and Privileges Committee’s decision to suspend Orwoba for six months.
Senator Orwoba apologised to her Senate staff and coworkers for offending them after being suspended.
“Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for giving me this time to possibly offer my apologies to members of this House and to members of staff who I might have offended as I pursued whatever I was pursuing in terms of oversight and legislation,” said the nominated senator.
The vocal lawmaker, who was nominated by the UDA party to represent women in the Senate through the 2022 General Election, said that if there is anyone she might have offended, forgive her.
