Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

- The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has expelled nominated senator Gloria Orwoba, accusing her of betrayal and blatant disloyalty to the ruling party’s ideals.

UDA party also initiated her removal from the Senate, taking what it described as a decisive action to safeguard its integrity and unity.

UDA secretary general Hassan Omar announced the party’s decision through an official press release dated Monday, May 19, detailing a cascade of disciplinary steps that led to her dismissal.

"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 party announced.

According to the statement, the party’s Disciplinary Committee, after deliberating on a complaint filed by party members Festus Omwamba and Henry Muriithi, found Orwoba guilty of violating Article 29 of the UDA Constitution.

Following her expulsion, UDA has nominated Consolata Wabwire Wakwabubi from Kimilili, Bungoma County, to replace Orwoba in the Senate.

The nomination is in accordance with the party list submitted to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) before the 2022 general election.

As part of the formal process, UDA has written not only to the Senate Speaker Amason Kingi but also notified the Registrar of Political Parties (RPP) and the IEBC.

"In light of the foregoing, the Party has formally written to the Speaker of the Senate to initiate the process of her removal from the Senate," the party noted in its release.

The party stressed that, while it upholds constitutional freedoms, political discipline and loyalty are non-negotiable for its members.

"While the UDA Party upholds the values of freedom of expression and association as enshrined in the Constitution of Kenya 2010, fidelity and loyalty to Party ideals are fundamental to its constitution and to further consolidate our multiparty politics by strengthening political parties. Gloria Orwoba cannot therefore, continue to play for two political teams simultaneously," concluded Omar.

Orwoba, a first-term senator, was nominated by the ruling party in 2022 under the gender top-up category.

Her troubles with the party began when she was spotted at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Thursday, April 17, welcoming former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i back to the country.

Her presence at Matiang'i's high-profile homecoming, dominated by opposition politicians, raised eyebrows within UDA ranks.

More damaging, however, was her participation in Matiang’i’s subsequent political tour across the Gusii region, which insiders interpreted endorsement of a potential challenger to UDA party leader President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election.

Source: TUKO.co.ke