Lawyer Willis Otieno has strongly criticised Nairobi County Woman Representative Esther Passaris, accusing her of betraying the legacy of iconic women in Kenya’s political resistance, particularly the late environmentalist and Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai.
“Esther Passaris is not just a disgrace to the memory of Wangari Maathai,” Otieno declared, “she’s a stain on the very legacy of women in resistance.”
In a statement on his X official account on Thursday, July 3, 2025, Otieno sharply criticised Passaris’s support for a bill to regulate or limit protests in Nairobi, suggesting it revealed her misunderstanding of democracy and civic action.
“She wants to ban protests because she confuses civic resistance with street heckling, and thinks democracy should be filtered like her photos,” he said.
In a scathing assessment of her leadership, Otieno compared Passaris to a shallow public figure more concerned with appearances than substance.
“We went from a fearless daughter of the soil who bled for trees and justice, to a pampered mannequin in parliament, whose biggest political muscle is an Instagram filter and a well-lit selfie,” he said.
He accused her of using the guise of order to suppress dissent: “Passaris doesn’t want peace, she wants obedience. She doesn’t seek order, she fears accountability.”
“This is a tantrum from someone whose political relevance is shrinking faster than her credibility… a woman occupying space meant for warriors wasting oxygen, pushing for a regime of silence in a country built by noise and defiance.”
Passaris Bill
Parliament is on course to enact new laws aimed at restricting public protests near key government institutions, with Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris at the forefront of these efforts.
The proposed Public Order (Amendment) Bill, 2025, seeks to ban public gatherings and demonstrations within 100 meters of Parliament, courts, State House, and other protected areas.
Government allied leaders are terming the bill as progressive and timely, especially coming at a time when unprecedented protests are seen in Kenya. However, critics feel that the Bill aims to curtail constitutional rights under Article 37, which guarantees every person the right to assemble, demonstrate, picket, and present petitions to public authorities, provided these actions are conducted peacefully and unarmed.
Members of the national security committee have welcomed proposals by Nairobi Woman MP Esther Passaris to contain protests.
“The whole idea of the Bill is to protect the pillars of our democracy. You have to have a certain area where you can’t reach as a demonstrator, and you have to respect that,” she said.
The bill aims to establish a 100-meter radius around Parliament, the State House, courts, and other designated protected areas, within which protests will be prohibited.
It also seeks to give the Interior CS the power to designate demonstration zones in cities or urban areas.
“The rationale of the bill follows the safety of our people and safeguarding institutions. Rights must be exercised peacefully and unarmed. There is a need to ensure that the rights of other individuals are not prejudiced,” Passaris said.
“In recent protests, supermarkets were looted, women raped, people terrorised. Rogue actors turned rights into ruin. This Bill is a direct response to the crisis.”
The proposed amendment to the Public Order Act sets a fine of Ksh100,000 for persons who violate the proposed law.
