Senator Gloria Orwoba Claims Retaliation for Exposing Sexual Harassment in Senate, Vows Not to Be Silenced

Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba has issued a blistering public statement accusing senior parliamentary leadership of orchestrating a coordinated campaign of retaliation against her for exposing sexual harassment within the Senate.

In a detailed and emotional address, Orwoba alleged that her refusal to give in to the sexual advances of Clerk of the Senate Jeremiah Nyegenye led to sustained efforts to sabotage her legislative work and eventually resulted in her suspension from Parliament.

Orwoba traced the genesis of her ordeal to a formal report she made two years ago, claiming her work in the Senate was being deliberately obstructed by senior figures after she rebuffed inappropriate advances.

She named Clerk Nyegenye as the main perpetrator, saying her refusal triggered a series of punitive actions — including attempts to suspend her, travel restrictions, and ultimately, a six-month suspension from the Senate.

“I realized that my work in Parliament was being sabotaged,” Orwoba said. “I came to the conclusion that because I refused to participate in the sexual advances of the Clerk of the Senate, so many things within his control — directly or through proxies — were used to frustrate me.”

She described how a motion to suspend her was strategically brought to the Senate floor while she was attending the Clinton Global Initiative in New York, rendering her unable to defend herself.

“They knew if I was present, I would speak the truth in Parliament, and that truth would expose the rot,” she said.

Orwoba further alleged that her suspension was framed as disciplinary action for “disrespecting Parliament” after she publicly spoke about the existence of sexual favors in exchange for legislative privileges.

She maintained that she was not given a fair hearing and that her complaint was twisted into a charge against her.

“They didn’t investigate my claims. Instead, they charged me for daring to speak up. They wanted to make an example out of me — that any woman who talks will pay a price,” she said.

In her remarks, Orwoba also disclosed that a prescribed apology, allegedly authored in part by the Clerk himself, was meant to be used against her in court to discredit her claims. She refused to read it in full, citing legal advice.

Nonetheless, the apology was cited in a recent court ruling where she was ordered to pay KSh 10 million for defaming Clerk Nyegenye — a judgment she has appealed.

Orwoba said the ruling is not just about her, but is meant to intimidate other legislators, especially women, from speaking out.

“That 10 million fine is meant to scare MPs into silence. It’s meant to break me, but I will not back down.”

She said she remains unpaid since her suspension and is facing multiple court battles, but insisted she would not be cowed into silence.

“The only thing they haven’t taken from me is my life,” she declared. “And if they take that too, I want Kenyans to know this is the battle I was fighting — for the dignity and safety of women in Parliament and beyond.”

Orwoba challenged journalists and watchdog institutions to investigate disparities in travel approvals and legislative support among women senators, which she claimed often correlate with sexual compliance.

“There’s a culture of sexual favors for trips, for office space, for legislative support. It’s entrenched, and it must end,” she said.

The Senator also extended her fight beyond the Senate, linking it to broader patterns of exploitation and abuse in workplaces across Kenya, including plantations, industries, and homes.

“How can I fight for women in Kericho when I can’t fight for myself in Parliament?” she asked.

Despite the weight of the allegations and the legal penalties facing her, Orwoba ended her address with defiance.

“Bring it on. If they thought this would break me, they were wrong. This is not just my fight — it’s for every woman who’s been silenced, coerced, or punished for standing up.”

As of this report, the Parliamentary Service Commission and Clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye have not issued a public response to the latest allegations. Orwoba’s appeal against the defamation ruling is ongoing.