UDA women leaders accuse Ruto of betrayal

Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba claimed the Parliament is "captured" by corruption and accussed President William Ruto of complicity. [File, Standard]

Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba's 20-day suspension from the National Assembly has ignited outrage among women leaders in the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), who accuse President William Ruto of betraying pledges in the Kenya Kwanza Women's Charter.

Wamuchomba was suspended by Speaker Moses Wetang'ula after protesting in Parliament over what she termed the government's lax response to the 2024 Kware Dumpsite femicide.

"Our women were killed, yet no one seems to care enough," she said.

Former nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba described the suspension as "a direct attack on women's advocacy," accusing Ruto of abandoning promises to women.

"We are not elected to be flower girls - we are here to fight for women's rights," she said.

Orwoba faulted the government for scrapping the Linda Mama programme, failing to provide sanitary products for schoolgirls among other issues.

Wamuchomba also claimed Parliament is "captured" by corruption, accusing the President of complicity. "For him to now talk about corruption in Parliament just shows he has lost it," she said.