Consolata Nabwire to Replace Gloria Orwoba as Senator as Kericho Governor Erick Mutai Battles Impeachment in August 20 Sitting

The Senate has called for a special sitting on Wednesday, August 20, to handle two big matters. Lawmakers will witness the swearing-in of nominated Senator Consolata Nabwire and later debate the impeachment of Kericho Governor Dr. Erick Kipkoech Mutai.

In a Gazette Notice dated August 18, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi confirmed that the meeting will start at 2:30 p.m. inside the Senate Chamber at Parliament Buildings, Nairobi.

The day will begin with Nabwire taking her official oath of office. She is joining the House as a nominated Senator, filling the seat left vacant after Gloria Orwoba was expelled from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.

Orwoba’s exit followed a ruling by the party’s Disciplinary Committee. She was accused of making public remarks that hurt the party’s image and of ignoring repeated calls to answer disciplinary charges. UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar said in a statement that the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) had unanimously endorsed her removal.

With Nabwire taking over, the Senate will quickly move to the second item of the day — the impeachment charges facing Governor Mutai.

The case against the Kericho leader began last week when the Kericho County Assembly voted to remove him from office. The Assembly’s Speaker has since written to the Senate, formally notifying it of the decision.

Now, Senators will be required to hear the charges and decide whether Governor Mutai should stay in office or be sent home.

Speaker Kingi, in his Gazette Notice, made it clear: “The business to be transacted shall include the swearing-in of Consolata Nabwire, the hearing of charges against Hon. (Dr.) Eric Kipkoech Mutai, Governor of Kericho County, and the alteration of the Senate calendar.”

This means the session will not only handle the two high-profile matters but may also adjust the Senate’s calendar to accommodate other urgent business.

The impeachment debate is expected to draw sharp attention. Governors in Kenya rarely survive when their impeachment reaches the Senate floor, though some have in the past managed to win the numbers needed to stay in power.

For Governor Mutai, the stakes could not be higher. If the Senate upholds the Assembly’s decision, he will lose his seat and Kericho will be left to choose new leadership. If he survives, he will continue his term but with a cloud of controversy hanging over his administration.

On the other hand, Nabwire’s swearing-in marks a fresh chapter in the Senate. She comes in at a time when her party is struggling to maintain unity and discipline in the face of internal wrangles. Her entry is expected to strengthen UDA’s presence in the chamber after Orwoba’s dramatic fallout.

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