Ruto, UDA on the Spot Over Handling of Orwoba Amid Parliament Fiasco

Samburu West Member of Parliament Naisula Lesuuda has criticised President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party over the handling of former Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba.
The MP came to Orwoba’s defence following a dramatic incident at the Parliament Buildings on Wednesday, 27 August. Orwoba had stormed Parliament,armed with orders for her reinstatement as a nominated legislator.
Orwoba claimed that her replacement, Consolata Wakwabubi, was illegally in the Upper House and that any activities conducted in her presence at the Senate were unlawful.
The incident coincided with a Senate impeachment hearing on Kericho Governor Eric Mutai, which Orwoba also alleged was illegal.
Despite her lamentations, Orwoba was driven away from Parliament grounds by police officers and even had her car towed. Footage obtained byKenyans.co.keshowed Orwoba attempting to chain herself to her car in an attempt to prevent it from being towed. Other clips showed police attempting to carry her into their vehicle as they arrested her.
In a social media post released on Wednesday, August 27, Lesuuda intimated that Orwoba was at the receiving end of double standards in her removal from the Senate.
Orwoba was expelled from the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) after she was seen welcoming former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) during his arrival to Kenya after an extended period working abroad.
According to UDA, this was a violation of its rules, which prohibited members of its party from associating with politicians not allied to the party and its leader, President Ruto. This act by Orwoba prompted disciplinary action from UDA, resulting in her expulsion and the relinquishment of her nominated position.
However, while disagreeing with the current state of events, Lesuuda referenced the tenure of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, where she claimed numerous leaders under Kenyatta’s ruling Jubilee leadership were constantly flouting their party’s rules without reprimand. At the time, some of the leaders flouting the party position were allied to Ruto, who was Uhuru’s deputy.
“Gloria Orwoba may have defied her party, but let us not be hypocritical; many nominated senators in the last parliament openly went against the parties that nominated them, opposing then-President Uhuru and his policies, yet served full terms,” Lesuuda stated.
As such, Lesuuda asserted that a uniform standard should be applied by Ruto and his administration, adding that it was hypocritical to give Orwoba such treatment for her misgivings.
“Two wrongs do not make a right. What’s good for the goose must always be good for the gander, regardless of which side one is on,” she said.
The lawmaker, who was elected on a Kenya National Union (KANU) ticket, called for adherence to the law, perhaps in reference to theorders directing that Orwoba be reinstated to her seat.
“We should stop selective amnesia! If it is about the law, then read it and follow it regardless,” Lesuuda noted.