Gloria Orwoba to Ruto: What did you gain by removing me?
By Paulette Mboga, August 21, 2025Former nominated senator Gloria Orwoba has taken a fresh aim at President William Ruto, questioning what political or social gains he may have achieved by pushing her out of Parliament.
Speaking candidly in a TV interview on Thursday, August 21, 2025, Orwoba argued that her removal did little to advance women’s interests in Kenya and instead stalled important progress that had been outlined in the Women’s Charter.
Orwoba, who has often described herself as a vocal advocate for women and girls, wondered aloud whether the President’s decision to sideline her had yielded any tangible benefits.
“What has William Ruto gained? Has he gained any support from women because he removed me? Since he removed me, have they implemented all the issues in the Women’s Charter?” she posed.
Questioning double standards
In her sharp critique, Orwoba also pointed to what she described as double standards in how leaders are judged.
She recalled an instance where President Ruto publicly accused Members of Parliament of engaging in corruption, even pointing fingers at them.
“When the President stood and said there’s corruption in Parliament, that he has seen it and even pointed fingers, how come they didn’t say he has a mental health issue the way they told me?” she asked, highlighting what she feels is a biased and unfair narrative that was directed at her.
Her remarks come at a time when the conversation around women’s participation in politics remains pressing, with many observers questioning whether commitments made to uplift women leaders are being honoured.
Orwoba insists that removing her not only weakened the fight for reforms but also silenced a voice that was willing to challenge the status quo.
A disappointing legacy
Taking her criticism further, Orwoba lamented the lack of substantive progress from the women she left behind in the Senate. She noted that the only stories making headlines about female senators since her departure revolve around personal disputes.
“The only thing that has hit the newspapers about the women I left in the Senate is that they are now suing their ex-fiancés,” she remarked pointedly.
For Orwoba, this reflects a broader failure to centre women’s leadership on critical national issues. Her message to the President was clear: sidelining outspoken women does not strengthen governance, nor does it earn greater credibility among women voters. Instead, it risks eroding trust in the very promises made under the Women’s Charter.