Senate Is Silencing Women- Martha Karua On Gloria Orwoba Suspension

Azimio la Umoja Principal Martha Karua on Thursday, September 21 claimed that the move to suspend embattled nominated senator Gloria Orwoba from Parliament for six months on Wednesday, September 20 was a plot by the Senate to silence its women.

In a statement, Karua, while jumping to Orwoba's defence after she was accused of making 'unsubstantiated' sexual harassment claims, termed the suspension as unfair and excessive for the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) senator.

She believed that the case ought to have been dismissed in the event there was insufficient evidence, but the NARC Kenya party leader feared that the suspension was the beginning of nightmares for women in the male-dominated Senate.

A bird's-eye view of the inside of the Senate chambers. /PHOTO

“Manifestly unfair and excessive. Senate which is male-dominated is telling women including women senators dare you complain of sexual harassment you shall exterminate you. A dismissal of the charges would have sufficed if at all the evidence fell short.

"This is patriarchy silencing women on matters of sexual harassment,” the former Gichugu Member of Parliament (MP) stated.

The veteran politician further challenged Parliamentary institutions including The Senate and National Assembly to examine the matter extensively to ensure that justice is served.

Karua observed that while it is important to prosecute the case without punishing the innocent, it is also important to ensure that sexual cases are examined thoroughly so as to avoid cases of actual victims of harassment being silenced.

“Whereas we ought to be careful not to punish the innocent, similarly we must be even more careful not to discourage reporting of sexual abuse or harassment,” she added.

The Azimio principal further condemned the utterances made by a section of the lawmakers during the session that resolved to suspend Orwoba.

She also criticised the extreme measures the lawmakers took to punish the nominated Senator as well as the language used which struck fear towards the rest of the female senators, particularly the young ones.

“The Senate has used a sledgehammer to kill a fly so to speak.

"Some of the language used during the debate was paternalistic, especially to young female senators offering them guidance, an assumption that they need guidance as a specific group. Totally unacceptable,” she added.

The House had on Wednesday, September 20 adopted the Powers and Privileges Committee report tabled on August 10 which recommended her suspension for failing to appear before it to substantiate claims she made against her colleagues on corruption and sexual harassment. 

Orwoba in response claimed that the committee blocked her from giving her the chance to defend herself.