Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has set the record straight, saying she has not endorsed anyone to take over her seat and will defend it herself in the 2027 General Election.
If re-elected, Passaris could become the second Woman Representative in Kenya to serve three consecutive terms, joining Siaya’s Dr Christine Ombaka, who has held the seat since its creation in 2013.
Speaking during an interview on TV47’s Breakfast Show, Passaris addressed speculation that she had been lining up a successor for the Nairobi Woman Representative position.
“I never really endorsed anyone. But I was open to waiting to see who amongst the broad-based women would come out strongly,” she clarified, noting that Karen Nyamu had been gaining momentum at the time.
Passaris explained that her decision to shelve her Makadara MP bid was triggered by an unexpected reaction from residents across Nairobi.
When she announced her interest in Makadara, residents of Kamkunji, Embakasi South, and Embakasi East all made it clear they wanted her to remain their county-wide representative.
“When I decided to run for Makadara and I went for a function in Kamkunji, the people in Kamkunji were not happy that I made that decision. Then I started hearing the same thing from Embakasi South, Embakasi East, they were all saying ‘you’re our MP right now, why are you leaving us?'” she said.
She said the experience made her realise that as a Woman Representative who has served an entire county, choosing one constituency would feel like abandoning the rest.
“When you’ve been a Woman Representative and you’ve served an entire county and you choose one constituency, it’s like you’re neglecting the others,” she stated.
ODM party leadership also played a role in her decision, asking her to defend the seat in the interest of retaining it for the party and the broad-based coalition.
“When I sat with the party leadership, they said, you know what, we want to retain that seat for us as ODM and for broad-based. You’re the best person to deliver the seat,” she said.
On the question of ODM losing ground ahead of 2027, with members such as Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Westlands MP Tim Wanyoni, and former Secretary General Edwin Sifuna all moving in different directions, Passaris dismissed the claim.
“ODM is getting stronger and reloaded. These are tremors that there will never be an earthquake. We are going to retain our seats and even more,” she said, describing the departures as tremors rather than an earthquake.
She said ODM’s current direction is anchored in the legacy of the late party leader Raila Odinga, who she said left the party firmly within the broad-based government arrangement.
“We’re not about anything other than Baba’s legacy, Baba’s foundation, Baba’s democratic principles, devolution. And service to the people would mean that we stay where Baba left us,” she said, adding that ODM would not be fielding a presidential candidate in 2027.
Passaris also said the party had made the right call in entrusting Oburu Oginga, Raila’s brother and the most senior member of the party, to steer ODM following the former PM’s passing.
“He is a man of substance. He is a man of stability,” she concluded.
