Kenyan Senator Gloria Orwoba Starts Reduced Suspension After Misconduct Ruling

Senator Gloria Orwoba Serves Senate Suspension After Court Loss

Gloria Orwoba, a nominated member of the Kenyan Senate, is now officially on a 30-day suspension as of February 12, 2025. This move follows an extended drama stretching back to a misconduct case that put her right in the Senate spotlight. The story starts with a committee finding last year—on September 20, 2023—where the Senate’s Powers and Privileges Committee found Orwoba guilty of gross misconduct. What followed was a lengthy battle, not just in Parliament but in courtrooms too.

Orwoba was first slapped with a hefty 79-day suspension, a decision that would have kept her sidelined until well past March. She didn’t back down quietly—she challenged the ruling in court, hoping for a reversal. The judges, however, weren’t convinced and threw out her appeal, giving the Senate the green light to act.

But things didn’t stay as grim as they first appeared for Orwoba. After her legal options ran out, she made a public apology. She didn’t just say sorry—she demonstrated clear remorse and agreed to stick to parliamentary rules moving forward. This wasn’t lost on Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot. He stepped forward, highlighting Orwoba’s willingness to own up and change as a reason to give her a break. Thanks to his proposal, and some understanding from his colleagues, the Senate decided to cut Orwoba’s suspension to 30 days—a significant reduction from the original punishment.

What Her Suspension Means—and What Comes Next

With the penalty now set, Orwoba started her suspension on February 12, and it runs through to March 13, 2025. During this time, she’s locked out of everything that makes life in the Senate comfortable and influential. She can’t step foot into the chamber, attend committee meetings, or participate in any discussions shaping national policy. No allowances, no mileage reimbursements, and absolutely zero access to parliamentary facilities—these are the hard realities of this disciplinary action.

Kenya’s Senate enforces these tough measures under the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act, which gives them the teeth to discipline members for gross misconduct. Deputy Speaker Kathuri Murungi was quick to stress that the Senate’s decision was final; he even instructed the Clerk to make sure all terms rolled out right away, without exception.

This case has turned a national spotlight on how Parliament holds its own to account. The process itself, from committee review to court battles and a dramatic climbdown after a public apology, reveals just how seriously legislators are now expected to treat standards of conduct. For the remaining days until mid-March, Orwoba will simply have to watch from the sidelines—out of the action, but directly feeling the consequences of her choices in the very institution she represents.