Gloria Orwoba Criticizes Kenya’s Representation at Samia Suluhu’s Swearing-In, Terms It “An Impeachable Offence”

Former Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba has sparked heated debate following her remarks on TV47’s Morning Café show, where she criticized Deputy President Kithure Kindiki for attending the swearing-in ceremony of Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan. Orwoba claimed that Kindiki’s attendance on behalf of President William Ruto was “an impeachable offence,” arguing that taxpayers’ money was misused for what she termed a politically insensitive event.

“The fact that DP Kithure Kindiki used taxpayers’ money to attend Samia Suluhu’s swearing-in, and even clapped and smiled as Kenyans were accused of disrupting Tanzania’s democratic process, is an impeachable offence,” Orwoba said during the live broadcast.

She further accused the Tanzanian president of corruption and divisive politics, claiming, “Samia Suluhu is corrupt in every single way. She shut down the internet, trying to create a divisive religious war between Muslims and Christians. This is escapism.”

Her comments came days after Kindiki represented President Ruto at the ceremony in Dodoma, where regional leaders and dignitaries gathered to witness Suluhu’s re-election. Orwoba’s remarks have drawn mixed reactions, with some defending her right to express concern over Kenya’s diplomatic decisions, while others have criticized her for making inflammatory statements about a neighboring country’s leader.

The former senator also weighed in on Kenya’s domestic politics, describing President Ruto’s involvement in Raila Odinga’s state funeral as “hypocritical.” She argued that Ruto’s visible grief stemmed from political fears rather than genuine emotion.

“The biggest abuser of Raila is Ruto, yet he was the one at the forefront of conducting his state funeral,” she said, adding that Ruto knows “without Raila, he’s in trouble in the 2027 elections.”

Political commentator Meshack Odede, who appeared alongside Orwoba, added that Raila Odinga’s influence would persist even after his death, especially in Luo Nyanza. “Raila will remain a major figure in the 2027 elections because his community still sees him as their father,” Odede said.

The controversial remarks by Orwoba have since ignited public discourse on both Kenya–Tanzania diplomatic relations and the evolving political realignments ahead of Kenya’s 2027 elections.