City Affairs

Esther Passaris heckled at anti-femicide protest

Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris and the anti-femicide protestors in January.

By Patel Okumu | Saturday, January 27, 2024

Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris faced unexpected hostility at a march against femicide on Saturday.

Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris faced unexpected hostility at a march against femicide on Saturday. Chants of "go back home" and "where were you?" erupted from the crowd at Jevanjee Gardens before she could even begin her address.

Undeterred, Passaris stood her ground and joined the protest alongside the other demonstrators. The march, organized by civil society and human rights activists, snaked through Nairobi's CBD, amplifying the collective outrage against rising femicide cases.

Keep reading

Speaking to the media afterwards, Passaris clarified her role in the march, "I was part of the team that planned this protest. I understand the anger, but directing it at a woman leader is misguided. The problem runs deeper, from the highest offices to the streets."

She described being unfairly singled out due to her position, "I'm angry too. I have a daughter, I'm a woman. Seeing a young girl slaughtered fills me with pain. But did the Woman Rep do this? Was I responsible?"

Despite the hostility, Passaris commended the police for swift action in apprehending recent femicide suspects, adding, "The judiciary must now do its part and swiftly sentence these criminals."

However, she emphasized the need for a broader societal response, "We must address the root causes of this violence. This isn't a burden the Woman Rep can bear alone; it requires the whole community."