Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba was readmitted to the Senate on Thursday, March 20, after serving a month-long suspension.
Her return followed her reading of a prescribed apology drafted by the Senate, though she clarified that the statement did not constitute a confession or admission of liability in an ongoing case involving Senate Clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye.
While complying with the Senate’s requirement, Orwoba stressed that the apology should not be interpreted as an admission of wrongdoing.
“I, Senator Gloria Orwoba, on this day, March 20, tender the prescribed apology herein as a requirement and as a fulfillment of the Senate resolution, with a disclaimer that these are not my words and in no way does it infer a confession or any admission whatsoever of liability on my part. It shall not prejudice my case in court where I have been sued by Jeremiah Nyegenye, the Clerk of the Senate,” she stated before proceeding to read the statement in full.
Following her compliance, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi formally announced her reinstatement.
“Senator Gloria, you are hereby readmitted to the chamber,” Kingi declared.
A day earlier, on March 19, Orwoba had declined to read the full apology, arguing that it contained incriminating language on a matter that had not been investigated. She selectively read parts of the statement, prompting Speaker Kingi to intervene.
“Mr. Speaker, having heard your advice, and noting that by reading this apology I will be incriminating myself, I find this very unfair.
“Where you have left me, I have no option but to walk away from my duties because I cannot read an incriminating statement on a matter that has not been investigated,” she protested.
Orwoba’s suspension began on February 12, with Senate Deputy Speaker Kathuri Murungi initially barring her from the House for 79 days, meaning she was to resume her duties on May 1, 2025. However, the suspension was later reduced to 30 days.
The senator was first suspended in September 2023 after failing to substantiate allegations that Clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye had made sexual advances toward her. She later moved to court, securing an order that temporarily halted the Senate’s resolution on the matter.
