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Following the impeachment of Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza, Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba has urged women to be proactive in their engagement and participation in politics.

In a statement shared on X, on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, Gloria stated that the patriarchy in Kenya’s politics will always oppress the few elected women.

 Gloria who was nominated by the UDA party to represent women in the Senate believes that women leaders in Kenya are subjected to rough and unfair treatment compared to their male counterparts.

“I keep shouting and I continue to shout about this: Women in Kenya need to join politics! This is a numbers game, as long as we have minimum elected women, the patriarchy will never end and women leaders will always have it rough and unfair! This is the cross we bear,” Gloria said.

Kawira’s Impeachment

On Tuesday night of August 20, 2024, Senators upheld Kawira Mwangaza’s impeachment by the Meru county assembly despite her hopes of surviving a third impeachment motion at the Senate.

On the first charge of gross violation of the Constitution and other laws, the Senate found Kawira guilty, with 26 Senators voting to confirm the charge, 4 voting against it, and 14.

Most of those who abstained are allied to the opposition parties.

“The Senate has tonight voted to uphold the decision of the County Assembly of Meru to remove from office by way of impeachment, the Governor of Meru County, Hon Kawira Mwangaza,” Speaker of the Senate Amason Kingi said.

A governor ceases to hold office if a majority of the Senate members uphold any of the impeachment charges, according to Section 33(7) of the County Government Act.

Kawira’s charges

Her first charge was a gross violation of the Constitution and other laws which she was found guilty by the senators.

The second charge was gross misconduct, she was accused of deliberately misleading the public by falsely claiming that Ksh86 million had been raised through a Paybill number established after the murder of Daniel Muthiani alias Sniper while the actual amount raised was Ksh286,516.

Her third charge was abuse of office which she was also found guilty.

I keep shouting and I continue to shout about this: WOMEN IN KENYA NEED TO JOIN POLITICS! This is a numbers game, as long as we have minimum elected women, the patriarchy will never end and women leaders will always have it rough and unfair!

This is the cross we bear. pic.twitter.com/KAlJLOUmgd

— Gloria Orwoba (@gloria_orwoba) August 20, 2024