Consolata Nabwire Wakwabubiwas officially sworn in as a nominated senator at the Senate on Wednesday, August 20, following her nomination by the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).She assumes the seat previously held by Gloria Orwoba, who had been expelled from the UDA party for alleged disloyalty. Senate Speaker Amason Kingi administered the oath of office during a special sitting, after which fellow senators, including Majority Whip Bonny Khalwale, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, and Machakos Senator Agnes Kavindu, welcomed her and offered counsel, emphasizing party discipline and dedication to service.

Wakwabubi's ascension to the Senate had been pending for three months since her nomination in May, as Orwoba challenged her ouster in court. Her nomination was gazetted by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC)on August 15. A staunch UDA loyalist and a known grassroots mobiliser in Kimilili Constituency and Bungoma County, Wakwabubi previously served as chief executive for public administration in Bungoma under Governor Kenneth Lusaka's first term and holds a master’s degree in project planning and management from theUniversity of Nairobi.She expressed gratitude to President William Ruto and stated that her seat belongs to the people of Kimilili and Bungoma.

Photo Credit: The Standard

Meanwhile, on the very same day, August 20, the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) delivered a significant ruling, nullifying the expulsion of former Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba from the UDA. The tribunal, chaired by Desma Nungo alongside members Theresa Chepkwony and Abdirahman Adan Abdikadir, declared Orwoba’s expulsion unlawful and politically motivated. It found that the UDA’s disciplinary process was marred by procedural flaws, denied Orwoba a fair hearing, and was designed to achieve her removal, describing it as a political process masquerading as a legal one.

Orwoba had been expelled on May 19 for alleged misconduct, including attending the homecoming of former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and criticizing President William Ruto’s labour mobility programme. UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar had stated that the party’s National Executive Committee endorsed the disciplinary committee’s recommendation, accusing her of damaging the party’s image and ignoring invitations to appear. However, the PPDT noted that the party announced her expulsion despite an interim court order suspending the process and relied on unsigned documents rather than official records, thereby violating her rights to natural justice and administrative fairness.

The PPDT's ruling explicitly ordered the UDA to reverse all steps taken to enforce Orwoba’s expulsion and barred the Registrar of Political Parties (RPP) from deleting her name from the register. The tribunal highlighted that the UDA failed to produce copies of the proceedings, relying instead on audio recordings that indicated the disciplinary hearing had been suspended due to a court order. This created an expectation that the proceedings were halted, yet substantive steps were taken in Orwoba's absence, effectively condemning her unheard and without sufficient opportunity to prepare her defense.

Photo Credit: Citizen Digital

Despite Wakwabubi's immediate participation in impeachment proceedings against Kericho Governor Erick Mutai following her swearing-in, Orwoba has since petitioned the High Court to challenge Wakwabubi’s nomination, asserting its unconstitutionality. This ongoing legal battle underscores the complex interplay between party discipline, legal due process, and political maneuverings within the Kenyan legislative landscape, with the case currently pending hearing and determination.