The Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA Kenya) has waded into the ongoing impasse involving Senator Gloria Orwoba who walked out on a live senate proceeding after refusing to read an apology on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.
In a statement signed by its chair Chrisitine Kungu and dated Wednesday, March 19, 2025, the women’s rights organization expressed its concern with the development around the nominated senator.
Orwoba, on her return from a revised 30-days suspension by the senate, was invited to read an apology letter written by the powers and privileges committee and ratified by the senate plenary; but read her own statement.
The reaction elicited the ire of an adamant speaker Amason Kingi, who handed her two options- to read the prescribed apology as it was or leave the chamber.
In defiance, the senator elected to leave the house, stressing her unwillingness to read what she termed as an incriminating statement.
FIDA has since responded to the incident by faulting speaker Kingi for denying Orwoba the chance to make her apology.
Concerned
“We, the Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA-Kenya), have closely followed the developments surrounding Senator Orwoba. She was expected to make an apology, and her attempt to tender an apology to the Senate was, however, declined by Speaker Hon. Amason Kingi, who termed it as her version and insisted that she read a predetermined apology prepared by the House, despite the matter being in court, part of the FID statement read.
FIDA has additionally cited Orwoba’s case as an endemic problem of discrimination against women in various leadership positions.
“We are deeply concerned that instead of fostering an environment that supports women in leadership, institutions such as the Senate are becoming punitive and unresponsive to gender-specific challenges that female leaders in Kenya face. As a nominated leader and a woman in governance, Senator Orwoba’s case highlights the broader treatment of women in political spaces, which is often marred by discriminatory practices, harassment, and unfair treatment in leadership and governance including other issues affecting women in political leadership,” their statement continued.
The body has thus ordered senate following the subsequent case of the senator, as they urged Women leaders to be accorded a just and fair treatment in accordance to the Kenyan constitution.
“We reaffirm our commitment to continue advocating for systemic changes that protect women in political spaces from intimidation and undue disciplinary actions. We, therefore, wish to notify the Senate that:
1. Their unresponsiveness to Senator Orwoba’s requests not to self-incriminate due to an ongoing matter in court over the issue is unconstitutional. We remind the Senate that her human rights supersede such unfair resolutions and procedures.
2. FIDA-Kenya puts the Senate notice that we are closely monitoring the parliamentary proceedings to ensure that due process is observed and that Senator Orwoba is accorded a fair and just process, their statement continued.
In a final call to action, the body has implored all law-making institutions, such as the National Assembly, County Assemblies, Government institutions, and independent entities, to uphold justice and ensure that women’s rights are protected without violating constitutional principles, as seen in the case of Senator Orwoba.
FIDA has ended their statement by reiterating its commitment to advocating for equal treatment of women in leadership, ensuring that they are not silenced, punished, or unfairly targeted for exercising their rights.
“Women in leadership must not be subjected to unwarranted harassment or political retaliation. We call upon all women’s rights defenders, policymakers, and the public to stand in solidarity against any form of discrimination and to ensure that justice prevails in this matter,’ their statement concluded.
