Orwoba to lose perks after six-months stay
By Rawlings, September 21, 2023
Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba is set to lose hefty perks and other personal benefits after Senators approved a committee recommendation to suspend her for six months.
Yesterday, the lawmakers approved the dreaded Senate Powers and Privileges Committee report chaired by Speaker Amason Kingi that will now see Orwoba out of the precincts of Parliament and its committees till February next year.
“Pursuant to section 17(3)(g) of the parliamentary powers and privileges Act, 2017, the senator be suspended from the House for the remainder of the second session of the 13th Parliament,” committee said in the report.
And before being allowed back in the Senate at the end of her suspension, the senator will be required to apologise before all the senators at the bar.
“On resumption of Senate sitting for the Third Session, the Senator, while at the bar apologises to the Senate, Senators, clerk of the Senate and Secretariat of Parliament before being admitted to the Senate, pursuant to section 17(3)(c) of the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act,” the recommendation.
Yesterday, while a section of Nominated Senators Hezena Lemaletian, Karen Nyamu and Abdulahi Miraj came to the defense of their colleague, majority of the senators charged that Orwoba had showed contempt not only to the committee but to the House at large.
Senators Boni Khalwale (Kakamega), Okiya Omtatah (Busia), Wakoli Wafula (Bungoma), Beatrice Ogolla (Nominated) supported the motion.
Yesterday, senators upheld the disciplinary committee report that delivered the punishment after Orwoba failed to honour its invites and summons to defend herself against the damning allegations.
Orwoba was accused making unsubstantiated allegations of sexual favours by some parliamentary officials.