The hearing of a disciplinary case by the UDA party against nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba on Friday failed to proceed as planned.
This is after the senator presented a court order barring the party’s disciplinary committee from conducting the proceedings.
Orwoba who had been summoned to appear before the committee on Friday (May 16) at the party’s Hustler Centre, instead arrived with her legal team to present the High Court order.
She was clad in a UDA party polo T-shirt.
“This morning I honored summons by my party United Democratic Alliance, where my legal team served the orders granted by the High Court to stop the disciplinary case,” she wrote.
“I want to thank my team of lawyers for their dedication and hard work. Asante sana.”
Orwoba has been accused of allegedly contravening the party’s Code of Conduct.
A letter dated May 7, addressed to her by UDA disciplinary committee chairperson Charles Njenga, cites three instances of what it termed “misconduct” by the senator.
Top among them was Orwoba’s presence at the welcoming ceremony of former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, as well as her attendance at his homecoming celebration held at Gusii Stadium.
The committee also raised concerns over Orwoba’s recent interview with Spice FM on April 22, where she openly criticised the government’s labour mobility programme- a key component of President William Ruto’s administration.
“Your participation and utterances in the above stated events clearly demonstrate instances and proof of allegiance to another political movement, conduct unbecoming and disloyalty to the United Democratic Alliance Party (hereafter the party) and which nominated you to the office and position of Senator in the Senate of the Republic of Kenya,” read the statement in part.
But, Orwoba has termed this as a “witch hunt by external parties involved in the diaspora jobs scam”.
She was expected to explain her actions and provide reasons why disciplinary measures should not be taken against her.
The party had cautioned that should the committee find her liable, its decision would be forwarded to the National Executive Committee for further action, which may include punitive measures or even expulsion from the party.
by FELIX KIPKEMOI
