In reacting to a court ruling against her, former nominated senator Gloria Orwoba has maintained that no investigation has been conducted into Senate Clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye, despite her allegations of sexual harassment.
Speaking just hours after the High Court ordered her to pay Ksh10.5 million in damages to Nyegenye for defamation, Orwoba declared that she would continue to speak out about the harassment she suffered at the clerk's hands, and encourage others who had suffered the same in Parliament to do the same.
She had complained in a WhatsApp group about being denied trips for rejecting Nyegenye's sexual advances.
"I have complained to the powers that be in the Senate, including the speaker and the official WhatsApp group, that because I said I am not going to participate in his advances, I am being removed from certain trips, certain legislative agendas, and my bills are being put at the back."
She also encouraged the public to consult official records of parliamentary trips to verify that certain MPs were offering sexual favours in exchange for a place on such trips.
"Kenyans, ask for the travel report so that you can see how the billions of your Kenya Shillings are being spent in exchange for sexual favours and trips," she claimed.
She cited a recent public incident where a popular woman MP had succumbed to public humiliation after being told to turn around and show her body, as one of the reasons why she would not stop advocating for women's rights in Parliament.
She also claimed that her refusal to entertain the clerk's advances had led to her receiving several punishments while serving at the Senate, including a six-month suspension and being forced to apologise upon her return.
Defamation case
Orwoba insisted that she would be filing an appeal on the defamation case, stating, "I am going to appeal this judgement that has come out."
In the High Court ruling on the defamation case, Nyegenye was awarded Ksh8 million in general damages and Ksh2.5 million in exemplary and aggravated damages.
Orwoba was also urged to issue a public apology to the clerk within 30 days; otherwise, she would be ordered to pay Ksh1 million more.
She also accused the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) of being the machinery behind her mistreatment in the Senate.
