NAIROBI, Kenya, March 18—Senator Gloria Orwoba dramatically walked out of the Senate chambers on Tuesday after refusing to read a prescribed apology verbatim, citing concerns that its wording could be self-incriminating amid ongoing court proceedings.
Orwoba, who was directed to issue an apology to the Senate, its members, the Clerk of the Senate, and the Parliamentary Secretariat before being readmitted, argued that the prescribed statement could compromise her legal standing.
“Having heard your advice and noting that by reading this apology I will be incriminating myself, and considering that this is attached to my work, I find that very unfair. Mr. Speaker, I still stand by my dignity and where I am. I have no option but to walk away from my duties because I cannot read an incriminating statement on a matter that has not been investigated,” Orwoba stated.
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi remained firm, insisting that the apology must be read exactly as it was prescribed by a prior Senate resolution and that he had no authority to amend or vary its wording.
“It is not up to the Speaker or the Chair to vary the apology. The apology was prescribed by a Senate sitting at a plenary. It is only the plenary sitting again that can reopen this matter and amend that particular apology. As it stands, it must be read as contained in the report,” Kingi ruled.
The Speaker gave Orwoba the option to read the apology as directed or return to the chamber whenever she was willing to comply, emphasizing that the directive was final.
Despite expressing her willingness to apologize, Orwoba maintained that the wording of the prescribed statement could be used against her in an ongoing court case.
“Mr. Speaker, I have apologized before, and I have no problem reading a prescribed apology. I just want to draw your attention to the fact that there is an ongoing court case, and I have been advised that the prescribed apology, in its current wording, is self-incriminating and undermines my right to a fair process,” she said.
She reiterated her regret for any offense caused to her colleagues but insisted on modifying the wording of her apology to protect her legal rights.
“I continue to acknowledge and express regret for my conduct, and I sincerely seek to assure my colleagues that I am sorry for any offense I may have caused them. However, the wording of the prescribed apology could be used against me in the ongoing court process,” she added.
The standoff now leaves Orwoba’s Senate membership in limbo, as her readmission depends on her full compliance with the directive.
As she exited the chamber, Orwoba warned her colleagues that similar actions could befall them in the future.
“It is happening to me now, but it is going to happen to you in the future,” Orwoba cautioned.
The Senate had reduced the suspension of the embattled nominated from 79 to 30 calendar days. The Senators agreed to pardon Orwoba in what they termed as showing remorse following her suspension.
Senator Orwoba who had commenced her suspension from February 12 this year was allowed back to the Senate and the precincts of Parliament on March 13 this year on the terms resolved by the Senate on September 20, 2023.
In 2023, the Senate Powers and Privileges Committee accused Orwoba of disrespecting fellow senators by publishing disparaging information, imputing improper motives on colleagues, and making unsubstantiated allegations of sexual favors involving some parliamentary staff.
A report tabled in the House recommended Orwoba’s suspension for breaching House rules.
“Based on the above findings, and having reviewed the sanctions provided for in Section 17(3) of the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act, 2017, as well as practices in other jurisdictions, the Committee finds that Sen. Gloria Orwoba MP’s conduct was in breach of privilege,” the report read in part.
