Mavin Mabonga, a Gen Z activist and civil rights advocate popularly known as KOT Sonko on the X platform, has publicly criticised Nairobi County woman representative Esther Passaris for her perceived lack of understanding regarding the necessity of protests to engage with parliamentary processes.
Speaking during a segment on a televised show aired by one of the local TV stations on the night of Wednesday, July 2, 2025, Mabonga questioned Passaris’s awareness of the challenges faced by protesters attempting to petition Parliament peacefully.
He further questioned how the protesters would access the parliament should they want to pass a petition if Passaris’ bill is going to bar them from picketing near parliament buildings.
“You can take someone from the village, take the person to Nairobi city, but you will not remove the villageism in that person. Esther Passaris, in her senses, doesn’t know that people need to protest to go and petition Parliament. How are we going to access Parliament with our petitions in our peaceful protests if that Parliament is being secured with barbed wire? Mjinga atabaki kuwa mjinga,” Mabonga stated.
Passaris’ bill
Passaris is sponsoring a new Bill that aims to prohibit public gatherings and protests near Parliament and other protected areas that are considered vital to Kenya’s constitutional order.
The Public Order (Amendment) Bill, 2025, seeks to amend the Public Order Act (Cap. 56) to introduce new rules about where Kenyans can hold demonstrations and public processions.
“A person shall not hold a public meeting or public procession within a radius of one hundred metres from the precincts of Parliament, protected areas under the Protected Areas Act, and courtrooms,” the proposal read in parts.
Anyone found breaking this law would be guilty of an offence and “shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both.”
“We need to start with the protection of areas that safeguard our Constitution and areas that protect our most vulnerable citizens. And also the penalty of rape during demonstration; we have to review that law because it has become rampant,” Passaris said, explaining her reasoning during the National Assembly Security Committee on Tuesday, July 1, 2025.
