Former Senator Gloria Orwoba Released on KSh 10,000 Bail After Arrest Outside Parliament

Former nominated senator Gloria Orwoba was released on a KSh 10,000 police cash bail following her arrest outside Kenya’s Parliament on Wednesday, 27 August.

Orwoba was taken to Nairobi’s Central Police Station after police accused her of causing a public disturbance and obstructing justice. She was processed and later granted bail, though formal charges are yet to be filed pending further investigation. A senior police officer described the bail amount as appropriate for the alleged offences.

In a statement posted online after her release, Orwoba confirmed her arrest and expressed frustration over the unclear legal procedures. She said officers at Central Police Station could not charge her due to the absence of the complainants and that her charges were being handled at the Parliament police station.

Her arrest happened amid a tense political dispute in the Senate. Orwoba had tried to return to the chamber following a tribunal ruling that nullified her expulsion from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party. Despite presenting orders for her reinstatement, she was prevented from entering the Senate floor. 

She has also contested the legitimacy of her replacement, Consolata Wakwabubi, and claimed that any proceedings involving Wakwabubi are invalid. The incident coincided with an impeachment hearing for Kericho Governor Eric Mutai, a process Orwoba has publicly criticised as unlawful. Her exclusion from the chamber during this hearing has raised concerns about procedural fairness in the Senate.

The Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) had ruled in Orwoba’s favour, identifying serious flaws in the disciplinary process that led to her expulsion from UDA. The tribunal found that she was not given a fair hearing or proper notification. This ruling reinstated her party membership, but UDA maintains that her expulsion was justified and has appealed the decision in the High Court.