NAIROBI, Kenya— Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba has come out swinging after her expulsion from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), taking to social media to hit back at the party’s leadership with a cryptic but pointed post that has set off political speculation.
In a post on X, Orwoba wrote:
“Team WANTAM, You cannot outplay a chess master with checkers tactics. It’s not about hashtags and hate, it’s about strategy and consistency. We know it, we did it.”
The message, laced with defiance and what appears to be insider confidence, came hours after the Senate formally declared her seat vacant—just a day after the court suspended her expulsion from the party.
Team WANTAM, You cannot outplay a chess master with checkers tactics. It’s not about hashtags and hate, it’s about strategy and consistency. We know it, we did it.
Orwoba’s expulsion marks the end of a tumultuous relationship with the ruling party.
UDA’s top decision-making organs cited her “consistent contravention” of the party’s Code of Conduct and accused her of political disloyalty.
According to the disciplinary committee, Orwoba violated Articles 4 and 29 of the UDA constitution, which demand unwavering allegiance to the party and bar association with rival political factions.
At the center of the storm are a series of events that party insiders say signaled Orwoba’s political drift.
These include her prominent appearance at the April 17 homecoming ceremony for former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport—an event seen as a show of strength by opposition-leaning forces.
She was also spotted at a public rally in Kisii Town on May 2, and gave a wide-ranging radio interview on Spice FM on April 22, during which she reportedly made remarks critical of UDA’s governance style and hinted at ideological differences with the party line.
The party interpreted these appearances as an open flirtation with political rivals, prompting swift disciplinary action.
Orwoba, however, is not going quietly. Her post, laced with metaphor and unmistakable shade, seems to allude to deeper political currents and strategy—a not-so-subtle suggestion that her expulsion was anticipated, or even part of a larger plan.
Her expulsion also ignites broader questions about UDA’s internal discipline and tolerance for dissent.
While the party has tried to portray itself as a big tent, the removal of a sitting senator signals a hardening stance against internal critics—even those in its own nomination ranks.
Speaker of the Senate Amason Kingi officially declared Orwoba’s seat vacant and paved way for her replacement.
