The Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA-Kenya) has slammed the Senate for trying to push Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba to read a scripted apology upon her resumption into the Senate, stressing that this contravened the constitutional and human rights of the senator.
In a statement on Wednesday, March 19, FIDA Chairperson Christine Kungu said that the Senate's 'inhumane' treatment towards the senator yesterday reflected the unfair and discriminatory treatment women leaders across the country are subjected to in the political arena.
According to FIDA, the Senate is among the institutions in the country that are becoming unresponsive to gender-specific challenges that female leaders in the country face.
"As a nominated leader and a woman in governance, Senator Orwoba's case highlights the broader treatment of women in political spaces, which is often marred by discriminatory practices, harassment, and unfair treatment in leadership and governance including other issues affecting women in political leadership," the statement read.
Kungu alerted that the federation is closely monitoring the situation and will take the necessary steps to ensure that the senator is accorded a fair and just process.
Furthermore, FIDA has stressed the need for National assemblies, county assemblies, government institutions, and independent entities to respect and uphold women's rights.
"FIDA-Kenya reaffirms that it will take all necessary steps to ensure that Senator Orwoba, and any other woman in a similar position, is not subjected to inhumane, degrading, or discriminatory treatment," it stated.
The senator, on Tuesday, March 18, refused to read an apology prepared for her upon resumption to the Senate weeks after she was suspended.
According to the prescribed apology subsequently read by Speaker Kingi, a clause that acknowledged she had acted in a manner that constituted a breach of Parliamentary privilege which reflected adversely on the dignity and the integrity of Parliament was included.
Orwoba, however, emphasised that she could not read the section as it would be self-incriminatory in her pending court case. She also insisted that she had apologised severally to her colleagues for her conduct.
After failing to compel Orwoba to read the statement as is, Speaker Kingi gave her an ultimatum stating, "You either read this apology as prescribed or you go think about it and come back any day or any time you will be willing to read it as is prescribed."
It was at this point that Orwoba stood her ground, refusing to perjure herself on the ongoing court case and opting to walk away instead.
