By Eddah Waithaka
Senator Gloria Orwoba has declared she will not back down from her battle against sexual harassment in Kenya’s Senate, despite facing suspension, legal battles, and a KSh 10 million defamation ruling.
In a fiery press conference, Orwoba accused Senate Clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye of sabotaging her legislative work after she rejected his sexual advances.
She revealed that her complaints to the Parliamentary Service Commission went unanswered, and instead of an investigation, she faced retaliation including a suspension passed in her absence.
“They suspended me because I spoke up,” Orwoba said. “They charged me for reporting harassment. Now, they want me silenced with a hefty fine, but I refuse to conform.”
Orwoba detailed how Senate leadership manipulated parliamentary procedures to punish her.
When she was abroad for the Clinton Global Initiative, they rushed through a suspension motion, denying her the right to defend herself.
Later, they pressured her to apologize, a statement Nyegenye then used in court to claim her allegations were false. “This is not justice. This is intimidation,” she said.
“If they think a KSh 10 million fine will scare me, they’re wrong. I will appeal, and I will keep fighting.”
The senator challenged journalists to investigate travel records and legislative favoritism in Parliament, alleging that sexual favors influence trips, office allocations, and bill approvals.
“Women in Parliament are suffering. If I stay silent, who will speak for them?” Orwoba linked her struggle to broader workplace harassment in Kenya, from tea plantations to government offices.
“How can I fight for women in Kericho if I can’t fight for myself in Parliament?” she asked. Despite threats and isolation from her party, Orwoba remains defiant.
“They can suspend me, fine me, even threaten my life, but I won’t stop. The only way they’ll silence me is by killing me.”
Her legal team has filed an appeal against the defamation ruling, which she called a tactic to scare whistleblowers.
“Wangari Maathai didn’t fight for justice because it was easy. There’s a price to pay, and I’m ready.”
When asked about police conduct amid protests, Orwoba sidestepped, focusing on her case.
“Right now, my fight is in Parliament and the courts. But Kenyans must hold every institution accountable.”
As the backlash grows, Orwoba’s stand has galvanized women’s rights advocates and drawn fierce opposition from powerful figures.
“This battle won’t end until Parliament cleans up its culture,” she vowed. “Bring it on.”
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