Court Victory Turns Chaotic As Orwoba Blocked And Arrested
News Updated: 29 April 2026 19:31 EAT
Ex-nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba arrested after attempt to access Parliament buildings
Former nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba was on Wednesday dramatically arrested at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi as she attempted to access Senate chambers, hours after a court ruling reinstated her to the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
The arrest unfolded in the afternoon when Orwoba arrived at Parliament insisting she was legally entitled to resume her duties following a favourable High Court decision that upheld her reinstatement to the ruling party.
Clutching court documents, the embattled politician demanded entry into the Senate precincts, arguing that the judiciary had already settled the dispute over her expulsion and membership status.
Security officers stationed at Parliament, however, blocked her from proceeding, triggering a tense standoff that quickly drew attention from lawmakers, staff, and members of the public within the precincts.
Witnesses reported a heated exchange between Orwoba and security personnel, with the former senator maintaining that denying her access amounted to contempt of court.
Moments later, police officers moved in and arrested her, escorting her to a nearby police station within Parliament amid resistance and protests from her supporters.
The incident follows a recent High Court ruling that declined to suspend a decision by the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal which had earlier declared her expulsion from UDA unlawful.
The tribunal had found that the party failed to follow due process in ejecting Orwoba, ordering that she be reinstated both as a party member and as a nominated senator.
Despite the court’s position, uncertainty remained over the practical enforcement of the ruling within Parliament, setting the stage for Wednesday’s confrontation.
In videos circulating online, Orwoba is seen questioning the legality of her arrest, alleging that powerful figures within Senate leadership had orchestrated the move to block her return.
She further claimed that authorities were attempting to fabricate charges against her, even as she maintained that she had committed no offence by seeking to access her workplace.
By Wednesday evening, her legal team had moved to secure her release, with lawyers indicating they were pursuing bail as they challenged the circumstances surrounding her detention.
Authorities had not immediately confirmed the specific charges she faced, though similar past incidents involving access disputes have attracted accusations such as creating a disturbance or obstruction.
The dramatic arrest now sets up a potential constitutional showdown between the authority of court rulings and parliamentary control over its internal processes, with legal experts warning the dispute could escalate further in the coming days.
Tags: Edit Editor's Pick Editors choice GLORIA ORWOBA ODM-UDA Pact Political Parties Political Partys Political Science Political tensions Politics Signs Signs Media Kenya Limited Signsmedia Signstv Signstvkenya Uda UDA Uda Party
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FELIX MAKONA
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