The humiliating spectacle of Gloria Orwoba being barred from the Senate precincts despite a court order lays bare the ruthless machinations within the ruling party to silence dissent.

Former Senator Gloria Orwoba was reduced to pleading at the gates of Parliament, barred by security from entering the House she claims to still serve, in a scene that starkly illustrates the erosion of the rule of law. Clad in a sharp suit but stripped of her power, Orwoba stood before the unwavering police line, clutching a court order that she insisted reinstated her. "I just want to collect my personal belongings," she told the press, a humble request that masked a fierce constitutional battle.

This was not just a security protocol; it was a political statement. Despite the court order, Orwoba was treated as a stranger, confirming that in the current political climate, party loyalty trumps judicial authority. Her replacement, Consolata Wakwabubi, sits comfortably in the chamber, a living symbol of the UDA machinery's efficiency in crushing internal rebellion. The party's message is clear: cross the line, and you will be erased, law or no law.

The Siege at the Gate

The confrontation at the gate was theatrical but revealing. Orwoba, once a vocal defender of the government, has become a pariah after falling out with the UDA leadership. Her expulsion was swift, and her replacement swifter. The Senate Clerk, citing "orders from above," refused to recognize her reinstatement, creating a constitutional absurdity where the Senate decides which court orders to obey.

"I am the substantive senator," Orwoba argued, her voice rising over the noise of the Nairobi traffic. But the gates remained shut. It is a humiliating fall for a politician who once walked these corridors with impunity. The pettiness of denying her access to her personal effects—files, awards, personal items—speaks to a vindictiveness that has become the hallmark of the current political purge.

Justice Delayed, Justice Denied

The legal labyrinth is designed to exhaust her. While the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal upheld her expulsion, the High Court issued a stay. Yet, the Senate Speaker has chosen to interpret the law in favor of the party's decision. It is a dangerous precedent that effectively subordinates the judiciary to the legislature and the executive.

• The Double Standard: Critics point out that other politicians with court orders have been allowed access, suggesting that Orwoba is being singled out to set an example.
• The Silence of Colleagues: Most chilling was the silence of her former colleagues, who drove past her at the gate, eyes fixed forward, afraid that acknowledging her might contaminate their own standing.

"I just want my things," Orwoba cried. It was a plea for dignity from a politician who has learned the hard way that in Kenyan politics, the door closes fast, and it rarely opens again.