The Speaker of the Senate on Wednesday declared the seat of nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba vacant with effect from May 21, 2025.

The declaration was made public through a Gazette notice.

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

This comes just days after the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), through its Secretary General Hassan Omar, expelled Senator Orwoba from the membership of the party, accusing her of being disloyal to the party’s constitution.

“Pursuant to Article 29 of the UDA Party Constitution, and having exhaustively deliberated on the matters before it, the Party’s Disciplinary Committee has resolved that Sen. Gloria Orwoba be expelled from the membership of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party with immediate effect,” Omar stated.

“Further, during its meeting held on 19th May 2025, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Party adopted and ratified the Disciplinary Committee’s decision. Accordingly, Sen. Gloria Orwoba ceases to be a member of the UDA Party,” he added.

Omar stated that the party had written to the Senate Speaker, informing him that Orwoba no longer represented UDA, and further called for the initiation of the process to remove her from Parliament.

The Secretary General also notified the Registrar of Political Parties and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) that the party had nominated Mrs. Consolata Wabwire Wakwabubi from Kimilili Constituency, Bungoma County, to fill Orwoba’s position.

Orwoba’s troubles began when she joined a delegation of leaders who went to receive former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i when he landed back in Kenya from the United States.

She also joined Matiang’i in the presidential popularization campaigns held in the Gusii region. Matiang’i, who had declared his intentions to unseat President Ruto in the 2027 general elections, has also joined a team of opposition leaders who are vocal critics of the UDA party.