Kisii MPs Walk Out Of Presser As Gloria Orwoba Defends William Ruto In Margaret Nyakang’o’s Arrest

• Political divisions in the Kisii region surfaced as Gloria Orwoba sought to absolve William Ruto of any involvement in Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang'o's troubles
• Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi disputed Orwoba's claims, asserting that Ruto was against their community, leading to interruptions
• Despite interruptions and walkouts by some MPs, Orwoba continued the press conference, urging Ruto to intervene against what she perceived as an intentional attack

Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Nairobi - The political divisions among leaders from the Kisii region have played out during a press briefing meant to portray unity.

The lawmakers, led by nominated senator Gloria Orwoba, called a press briefing to show solidarity with Controller of Budget (CoB) Margaret Nyakang'o.

During the Tuesday, December 5 briefing, Orwoba moved to absolve President William Ruto of any wrongdoing in Nyakang'o's troubles.

She claimed that power brokers around Ruto have always waited for him to fly out of the country before pushing their agenda in government.

"I am a Kenya Kwanza nominated senator; elected under my party by my party leader William Ruto. I want to speak authoritatively today, and I have told my colleagues here, and I will continue to say to the Gusii community whatever is happening is not any doing of the president.

Whatever is happening, and I have told my colleagues anytime something is being cooked those people who think they have the powers around our party leader, they always wait for him to leave the country," Orwoba stated.

However, Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi could not have any of these and interrupted her, maintaining that Ruto was against their community.

"It is systematic. No...no we cannot defend the president in this. The president is involved; he has been attacking our community. The president is targeting the Abagusii community. I will not be here," he stated.

The MPs kept interrupting her before storming out, leaving the press conference led by Nyamira senator Okong'o Omogeni.

What was Orwoba's message to Ruto

Orwoba was forced to continue with the press briefing, urging Ruto to come out and stop what she claimed was a deliberate attack on the Abagusii community.

She claimed that the same situation happened and was removed from the senate, affing that it was not Ruto's call to make.

"I am here because I am upset because it is a woman leader who is being removed. I want to say those powers that surround there, the president has the interest of the Abagusii community but we urge him to come and stop this because our community is being targeted," she added.

Nyakang'o's legal troubles

TUKO.co.ke reported on Nyakang'o's arrest in Mombasa following a 2016 complaint predating her tenure as the Controller of Budget (CoB).

The charges against her were approved by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) before she was arrested.

Earlier, she revealed that the National Treasury tripled her annual salary from the Consolidated Fund Services.