Orwoba: Telling Ruto the truth cost me senate seat
Former nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba has said her ouster from the Upper House stemmed from her willingness to speak the truth, even when it contradicted party leadership.
Speaking on Tuesday, August 25, 2025, during an interview on a local radio station, she explained the circumstances that led to her being removed.
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“We know what we’ve seen, we know what we’ve had, we know what we’ve read, but according to you, what do you think is the issue? Why is anyone fighting you?” Orwoba said. She explained that there were “two battlefronts” that made her position untenable.
“The first one is the fact that I tend to speak up and speak the truth. Sometimes politicians don’t like that they want cheerleaders. When I say politicians, I’m referring to my party leader,” she said.
Orwoba claimed that President William Ruto often surrounds himself with people who merely tell him what he wants to hear, rather than exposing problems.
She added that she personally informed the president about alleged corruption involving Ministry of Labour officials, repeatedly sending messages and presenting evidence of victims of a labour export scheme.
“These are just the people I know of. Imagine if we had to unearth the full extent,” Orwoba said.
Challenges in Governance
Orwoba also addressed challenges in implementing initiatives she supported. She said that despite signing a charter with women politicians, there was no clear intention from the cabinet to fulfil commitments.
She cited the release of Ksh100 million towards combating femicide, which was eventually divided among women MPs and senators rather than targeted at the intended programs.
“This is very personal,” Orwoba said. “Speaking the truth cost me my seat. The political machinery prefers compliance over accountability, and that’s the reality I faced.”
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) gazetted Consolata Nabwire Wakwabubi as Orwoba’s replacement in the Senate following her expulsion from the UDA party in May 2025 on grounds of misconduct and violating party rules.
Orwoba’s comments highlight tensions within party structures and raise questions about the cost of transparency for politicians in Kenya.
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William Muthama
William Muthama is a digital journalist with a focus on entertainment, human interest, and current affairs. Share stories: [email protected]/ [email protected]
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