Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba is facing a disciplinary hearing today after defying her party by attending the high-profile homecoming of former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i.
The United Democratic Alliance (UDA), which nominated her to the Senate, accuses Orwoba of flouting party rules and “showing allegiance to another political movement.” The charges stem from her appearance at both the airport reception for Matiang’i and a subsequent rally at Gusii Stadium.
In a formal summons issued earlier this week, the UDA disciplinary committee said the events “clearly indicate disloyalty” to the ruling party. The letter, signed by committee chair Charles Njenga, also references an April 22 interview Orwoba gave to Spice FM, where she criticised President William Ruto’s flagship Labour Mobility Programme.
Speaking on-air, Orwoba voiced scepticism about the government’s overseas jobs initiative. “We cannot just export Kenyans without proper frameworks for protection,” she said. “It’s not enough to say jobs are available abroad—we must ask, at what cost?”
The disciplinary session is taking place at UDA’s Hustler Plaza headquarters in Nairobi. Orwoba is expected to respond to the allegations at 9 a.m.
While some within UDA see her actions as a clear breach, others have warned against what they describe as a “clampdown on internal dissent.”
One senior party member, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Times that punishing Orwoba could backfire. “There’s growing unease within the party. Not every critique is betrayal.”
Matiang’i’s return to the public eye after months of silence drew a large crowd in Kisii and was widely seen as a political statement. Though once a close ally of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, Matiang’i has kept a low profile since Ruto’s government took office. His homecoming was viewed by some as a signal of political reawakening.
Orwoba’s appearance at his reception raised eyebrows within UDA, where loyalty to Ruto is strongly enforced. Party insiders say the leadership was especially irked by her visible presence at a gathering they associate with the opposition.
Political analyst Prof. Karuti Kanyinga says the case highlights deeper tensions within the ruling party. “UDA is struggling to maintain a unified front,” he told The Times. “But in doing so, it risks alienating voices that might simply be offering constructive criticism.”
Today’s hearing could lead to a range of outcomes—from a simple warning to outright expulsion from the party. Any decision will be forwarded to UDA’s National Executive Committee for approval.
Senator Orwoba has yet to comment publicly on the summons, but sources close to her suggest she intends to stand her ground.
“She’s not afraid to speak her mind,” said a member of her team. “That’s what got her nominated in the first place.”
The outcome of today’s meeting may not just shape Orwoba’s political future—it could also set the tone for how UDA handles dissent in the months to come
