Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba surprised many on Friday after showing up at UDA headquarters dressed in full party colours, wearing a bright yellow t-shirt branded “Ruto the 5th”, only to stop her own disciplinary hearing from taking place.
Orwoba was scheduled to appear before the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) disciplinary committee at the party’s Hustler Centre offices over alleged misconduct.
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But instead of facing the panel, she arrived with her lawyers and presented a court order stopping the hearing.
“This morning I honoured summons by my party United Democratic Alliance, where my legal team served the orders granted by the High Court to stop the disciplinary case,” The senator said in a statement posted shortly after.
The case against her includes three accusations listed by the UDA disciplinary committee. The main concern is her appearance at two recent events attended by former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i, a welcome rally at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and a homecoming ceremony in Kisii.
The party claims her participation in these events shows loyalty to another political movement.
She is also accused of making negative remarks about President Ruto’s job export programme during a radio interview on Spice FM in April.
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In a letter sent to her earlier this month, the party warned that such behaviour could lead to disciplinary action, possibly even expulsion.
But Orwoba has dismissed the accusations as politically motivated, calling the move a “witch hunt” tied to her criticism of alleged corruption in diaspora job placements.
Despite the colourful show of UDA loyalty through her outfit, the case now pauses, pending a court ruling on whether the party can proceed with disciplinary action.
By Nairobi