Wamuchomba and Onyonka Condemn Orwoba’s Ouster from UDA

By The COAST Reporter

Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba has condemned United Democratic Party (UDA) for expelling nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba from the party.

Speaking in Mombasa on May 21, 2025 Wamuchomba termed the act of political persecution as violation of her rights to association.

The ruling party expelled estranged Orwoba for disloyalty of associating with former interior cabinet secretary Fred Matiang’i and presidential hopeful for the 2027 general election.

Flanked by Kisii senator Richard Onyonka, the Githunguri legislator said Sen Orwoba was being politically bullied for her societal association indicating intolerance and erosion of nationalistic ethos.

“We are saying: UDA, stop harassing parliamentarians! You cannot isolate Gloria from her community. You cannot say that Gloria because she is a nominated member from UDA she cannot associate with people of her community. This is an erosion of nationalistic ethos,” she added.

Her reaction comes in the wake of Senate Speaker Amason Kingi’s action to declare Sen Orwoba’s seat vacant following her expulsion from UDA.

The outgoing KEWOPA chair said she stands with the senator because her political rights of association were being violated.

“UDA literary means democratic party, and senator Gloria is not from Mt Kenya where I come from, but we are standing with her because she is a woman and a Kenyan. If UDA really stands for democratic leadership, then it should let her associate with people of her region. Just because she has decided to align herself with her community, should not be the basis of violating her human rights!”

According to her if UDA was a democratic party it should have respected her association with people from her community without being viewed as a political betrayal.

Kisii senator Richard Onyonka claimed the president was humiliating Orwoba because of fearing defeat from Matiang’i’s presidential bid for 2027 elections.

“Gloria is a victim of circumstance who is being victimised for being friends with Matiang’i. I hope the courts will rescue her because what is happening is illegal and unacceptable.”

A Gazette Notice dated May 21, 2025 confirmed the vacancy under Article 101(2) of the Constitution.

The ruling party had written to the Speaker requesting her removal, thus, paving the way for the IEBC to fill the seat.

“Pursuant to Article 29 of the UDA Party Constitution, and having exhaustively deliberated on the matters before it, the Party’s Disciplinary Committee has resolved that Sen Gloria Orwoba be expelled from the membership of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party with immediate effect,” the gazette notice says in part.

As the procedures demand, UDA had to notify the Speaker of the Senate, the Registrar of Political Parties (RPP), and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) about Orwoba’s expulsion.

“In accordance with the Party’s Nomination Rules and based on the Party List submitted to the IEBC prior to the 2022 General Elections, the Party has nominated Mrs Consolata Wabwire Wakwabubi from Kimilili Constituency, Bungoma County to fill the resulting vacancy.”