Senator Orwoba: Why I regret impeaching Gachagua

Orwoba said she misinterpreted one of the 11 counts that led to Gachagua's impeachment.

by JAMES GICHIGI

News23 May 2025 - 09:15

In Summary

When asked by the interviewer whether she regretted the decision that led to the impeachment of the ex-DP, she said, “I do, I regret it.”
Her remarks mark a shift from her earlier stance, where she had supported the motion to remove Gachagua from office.

Embattled Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba has expressed regret over her involvement in the events that contributed to the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Speaking during an interview at K24 on Thursday, Orwoba admitted that, in hindsight, she should have approached the matter differently.

When asked by the interviewer whether she regretted the decision that led to the impeachment of the ex-DP, she said, “I do, I regret it.”

Her remarks mark a shift from her earlier stance, where she had supported the motion to remove Gachagua from office.

She said she misinterpreted one of the key charges out of the 11 counts that former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was charged with.

She noted that though the Democracy for the Citizens Party(DCP) leader had 11 counts of charges that were brought against him, the Senate failed to substantiate most of them.

Reflecting on her role in the process, Orwoba recalled how she had criticised the impeachment motion for presenting 11 charges, most of which, she said, lacked sufficient evidence.

“I said the only thing (out of the 11 counts) that has been substantiated is when Gachagua had a movement in his community that was ‘misinterpreted’ by Kenyans and the ‘usiguze mlima’ remark,” she said.

“I was one of the people who misinterpreted it, and I did say that was the only count that was substantiated. It was the count I impeached him.”

The Embattled Senator lost her position in the Senate after Speaker Amason Jeffah Kingi officially declared her seat vacant.

She, however, obtained a court order that stayed her expulsion from the UDA party and removal as senator.

In a Gazette Notice dated May 21, 2025, and issued on the same day, Speaker Kingi announced the vacancy in accordance with Article 101(2) of the Constitution, following the invocation of Article 98(1)(b), which pertains to members elected to represent special interests.

“It is notified for the general information of the public that pursuant to Article 101(2) of the Constitution of Kenya, a seat of the Member of the Senate elected under Article 98(1)(b) of the Constitution, held by Senator Gloria Orwoba, has become vacant with effect from the 21st May, 2025,” the notice reads.