Senator Orwoba breaks silence over viral video of Ruto pinching her during presser
It’s almost a year since a video of President William Ruto pinching nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba on the cheek during a press briefing went viral.
The light-hearted moment, captured as the two laughed, sparked mixed reactions on social media, with many Kenyans speculating and making their own conclusions about what had led to the interaction.
Until now, though the story is long forgotten, neither of the two has publicly addressed the incident.
Speaking during a media interview on Thursday, May 15, 2025, Senator Orwoba finally shed light on the video and the events that led to the moment that stirred netizens.
In her explanation, Orwoba revealed that prior to the press conference, there had been a heated exchange in a WhatsApp group involving several leaders.
She admitted to insulting a fellow member in the group after a disagreement, which caught the president’s attention.
“There was some disagreement in our WhatsApp group. I insulted someone because I felt they weren’t doing their job well and had spoken to me disrespectfully,” Orwoba said.
“During the presser, the president noticed I was standing behind him and pinched me as a subtle way of warning me to avoid such behaviour and treat people with respect.”
She added that the public misinterpreted the gesture because they weren’t aware of the events leading up to the presser.
“Tulikuwa na mvurugano katika WhatsApp yetu. Kuna mtu ambaye nilimtukana kwa sababu niliona kazi aliyopaswa kufanya hakuifanya vizuri na alikuwa ananiongelesha vibaya. Rais aliniambia niachane na hiyo tabia ya kuwatukana watu katika group hiyo,” she explained.
Senator Orwoba went on to express the deep respect she holds for President Ruto, describing him as a father figure. She recalled how, after the passing of her biological father in 2022 during the election campaigns, Ruto stepped in and even helped her family resolve internal issues.
“My party leader is like a father to me. I respect him deeply. After my dad passed away in 2022, President Ruto stepped in and helped resolve some family issues we were going through,” she said.
According to Orwoba, the viral moment with the President was misunderstood and taken out of context, but it stemmed from a moment of mentorship and guidance from a leader she greatly admires and views as a father figure
Orwoba’s political ambition
It was during this interview that she declared her interest in the 2027 Bobasi parliamentary race, stating that this is the last time she is serving in the nominated capacity, and she is now set to hit the ground running for the 2027 Bobasi parliamentary race.
