NAIROBI, Kenya Jan 16 – The High court has upheld the Senate decision to suspend Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba for one session once Senate resumes sittings.
In a verdict handed down by Justice Lawrence Mugambi on Wednesday, the court upheld the Senate’s decision to reprimand Orwoba for her misconduct.
Orwoba, who was accused of making unsubstantiated allegations concerning sexual harassment and reports on corruption on social media platform and press conferences without substantiating them had been summoned by the Senate Committee on Powers and Privileges but failed to appear before it for inquiry.
The disciplinary committee chaired by Speaker Amason Kingi therefore prompted the team to institute the disciplinary proceedings.
“Having voluntarily refused to participate, I find that there was no infringement of the right to fair administrative action or the right to fair hearing in the circumstances of this case. I thus dismiss this Petition/Judicial Review Application with costs to the Respondents,” stated Justice Mugambi.
The court further nullified earlier temporary orders that the senator had sought to challenge the suspension decision by the Senate.
According to Justice Mugambi,Orwoba was given the chance to defend herself before the Senate Committee on Powers and Privileges, but she disregarded the summons, undermining the committee’s authority.
“The Petitioner/Ex-Parte Applicant was provided with the opportunity to appear and state her case, presumably, even raising all manner of preliminary issues before the Respondent but she instead opted not to participate and walked out,” he said.
The speaker of the Senate Amason Kingi will now have to communicate to the House for what duration the nominated Senator will be suspended.
Orwoba was accused of disparaging Senators by make wild allegations against senators through publishing information that tainted her colleagues surrounding sexual harassment and graft.
In August 2023 the Senate committee recommended the controversial nominated Senator be denied hefty perks and allowances during her six months suspension and also be barred from accessing precincts of Parliament.
“Having accorded Sen Gloria Orwoba an opportunity to be heard, the senator declined to participate in the inquiry by the committee on powers and privileges and hence the committee found the charges to stand,” the Committee report stated.
“The committee considered the evidence before it on this charge and given that there was no evidence to the contrary to refute the charge, the charge was therefore confirmed,” it added.
