Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba in Parliament on March 18, 2025. SCREENGRABNominated Senator Gloria Orwoba on Thursday agreed to apologise to the House, but with a disclaimer regarding allegations of sexual misconduct she leveled against her colleagues in 2023.
Orwoba said she had reached the decision after consultations in and outside the Senate and after being counseled by Leader of Majority Aaron Cheruiyot.
On Tuesday, Orwoba opted to walk out of the chamber after she declined to read a pre-prepared apology to the House on her return to the House straight from a 30-day suspension.
She said she made the difficult decision because reading the apology in the manner prescribed by the Senate would amount to self-incrimination.
"When you last appeared and sat at the bar, you were unable to fulfill conditions for you to be readmitted to the chamber," Speaker Amason Kingi said.
"Those conditions were pursuant to a resolution of this House. You are back today; you may proceed," he added.
Orwoba said she would proceed and read the apology in the prescribed manner, but this would be preceded by a disclaimer to avoid prejudicing a case filed against her in court regarding the sexual allegations she made.
"Speaker, after being guided by the Leader of Majority and after I sought counsel within the House and outside, I'm going to read the apology without any omission, and I'm going to fulfill because that is the procedure of the House," she said.
"But speaker, allow me to issue the disclaimer as advised: I, Senator Gloria Orwoba, on this day, March 20, I 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, and it shall not prejudice my case in court where I have been sued by Jeremiah Nyegenye, the Clerk of the Senate."
Orwoba then proceeded and read the apology as prescribed by the Senate word for word.
"Mr Speaker, I, Senator Gloria Orwoba, hereby tender my unreserved apology to this Senate, honourable senators, clerk of the Senate and the secretariat of Parliament for having acted in a manner which pursuant to section 16(e) and paragraph 7 and 8 of the Fourth Schedule, to the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act, 2017, constituted a breach of parliamentary privilege that reflected adversely on the dignity and integrity of Parliament and its members and was contrary to the best interests of Parliament and its members.
"I undertake that I shall abide by the responsibilities of leadership as set out in the constitution, the Leadership and Integrity Act, 2012, and the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act, 2017. I therefore beseech to be admitted to the chamber. I thank you."
With that, the speaker announced that Orwoba was now readmitted to the House and was free to conduct her mandate unrestricted.
"Senator Gloria, you are hereby admitted back to the chamber," he said.
In August 2023, Orwoba made unsubstantiated allegations of sexual misconduct against some parliamentary officials.
On February 12, she was slapped with a 79-day suspension from the Parlement precincts after she lost a court case she filed to bar her suspension from the House.
On February 26, the House reviewed the suspension period downwards to 30 days, saying she had shown remorse.
Instead of May 1, Orwoba was now expected to resume on May 13.
But when the House resumed sittings on March 18, the senator declined to tender her apology as prescribed by the House on September 20, 2023, on the recommendation of the Powers and Privilege Committee.
"I have been advised, Mr Speaker, that the prescribed apology in the wording it has been put, I have been advised that it's self-incriminating and undermines my right to a fair process with the current court proceeding," she said.
Kingi insisted that she must make the apology in the prescribed manner, failing which her only other option was to walk out of the House until such a time she felt willing to oblige.
She chose the latter, and amid tears, she said: "I find that unfair; I still stand by my dignity, and I stand where I'm, I have no option where you have left me but to walk away from my duties because I cannot read an incriminating apology on a matter that has not been investigated."
