Esther Passaris
Esther Passaris | |
|---|---|
| County woman representative of Nairobi City County | |
| Assumed office 31 August 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Rachel Shebesh |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Esther Mūthoni Passaris 20 October 1964 Mombasa, Kenya |
| Party | Orange Democratic Movement (Since 2017)[1] |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Strathmore University (Advanced Management Program) University of London (Diploma in Law) United States International University Africa (BSc International Business Administration)[2] |
| Website | esthermpassaris |
Esther Mūthoni Passaris OGW (born 20 October 1964) is a Kenyan politician, social entrepreneur and philanthropist. She is the Nairobi County woman representative in the bicameral Kenyan parliament,[4] and a member of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Political Party.[1]
In 2013, she ran for member of parliament as a women's representative for Nairobi County, on the Kenya National Congress political party ticket but lost to Rachel Shebesh.[1] She is a public figure in Kenyan business[5] and politics.[6][7]
Early life
Passaris was born in the coastal city of Mombasa to a Greek father and a Kenyan Kikuyu mother. She attended the Aga Khan Academies for her primary and secondary education.[8] She enrolled in the Advanced Management Program course at Strathmore Business School, a program that was conducted in December 2006 between Strathmore University and the University of Navarra. She also has a diploma in law from the University of London.[8] In October 2017, Passaris graduated from the United States International University Africa, in Nairobi, with a BSc International Business Administration.[2]
Public and political career
Esther Passaris is a public figure in Kenya, who has sparked some controversy by her statements about other Kenyan politicians and businessmen.[9] She has been a runner-up in Miss Kenya contest and is actively campaigning for the rights of women in Kenya.[10]
Through her Adopt a Light organization, Passaris has signed a deal with Nairobi city authorities in order to: "Restore decrepit street lighting in exchange for advertising rights on the lamp posts."[11]
Passaris ran for the women's representative for Nairobi County during the 2013 Kenyan general election,[12] and was also a candidate for the post of Mayor of Nairobi. She is currently the Nairobi Women's Representative.[13]
Esther speaks about the community and human rights. This makes her spend time with the community, doing mentorship programs and speaking engagements in social forums like Fatuma's Voice. She was also CEO and the founder of "One in a Million" campaign, which was operating under Driving Kenya Forward, a non-profit charitable organization, aimed at fighting development challenges in Kenya, such as poverty and unemployment, and promoting urban and rural development.[14]
She was re-elected in the 2022 general election.[15] She dedicated her victory to her late father.[16]
Controversy
In July 2025 a petition to recall her was filed by a group of young activists for violating several provisions of the Kenyan constitution. She was accused to have undermined peaceful protest and public participation, aligned herself with executive overreach, failed to advocate for Nairobi women during instances of police brutality, spread disinformation, and declined to account for public funds. This came after a bill she sponsored that sought to restrict public picketing and protests from within certain distances of public institutions and offices. The matter still lies with the Electoral Body in Kenya IEBC.[17][18] In 2019 a leaked phone conversation between her and the then Nairobi governor Mike Sonko implicated her in an extortion and romance scheme. The truth of the scheme remains unknown as she denied any involvement with the governor. In 2021 she sought to have his social media accounts blocked citing that Sonko was using his accounts to abuse of women [19][20]
Personal life
Passaris has two children (Makenna Ngūgi & Lefteris Ngūgi ) with Kenyan businessman Pius Ngūgi. In 2003, she filed a lawsuit against Ngūgi for a breach of promise to marry, demanding a monthly allowance of KSh. 200,000/= (US$2,000), and a car to take their children to and from school.[21] In August 2011, Passaris was sued by Ngūgi, claiming she continued to demand more money despite agreeing to a truce in their previous case.[9] Passaris' daughter and eldest child, Makenna Ngūgi is a singer.[22]
Awards
- 2016 Most influential women in business and government by CEO Global, South Africa
- 2009 UN Habitat Business Awards by UN Habitat[23]
- 2008 Order of Grand Warrior (OGW) by former President of Kenya, Mwai Kibaki.
References
- ^ a b c Alex Isoe (2 April 2017). "Esther Passaris Officially Joins ODM". Kenyans.co.ke. Nairobi. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
- ^ a b Kipng'enoh, Wesley (October 2017). "How Esther Passaris achieved her dream of graduating from USIU". Nairobi: SDE.co.ke. Archived from the original on 16 July 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
- ^ Wasuna, Brian (26 April 2015). "Passaris in legal battle to stop sale of Kitisuru home". Business Daily Africa. Nairobi. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
- ^ Collins Omulo (5 June 2018). "Passaris asks Sonko to name her as Nairobi deputy governor". Daily Nation. Nairobi. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
- ^ Ilako, Cynthia. "Women politicians feted for their role in business". The Star (Kenya). Nairobi. Archived from the original on 16 July 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
- ^ "Chapter 6: Access to Justice". Gender and Economic Growth in Kenya: Unleashing the Power of Women. World Bank Publications. 2007. ISBN 9780821369203. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
- ^ Cutura, Jozefina (2006). "Voices of Women Entrepreneurs in Kenya" (PDF). Washington DC: International Finance Corporation. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
- ^ a b SoftKenya (2012). "Esther Passaris Biography, Career, Husband and Children". Nairobi: Softkenya.com. Archived from the original on 16 July 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
- ^ a b Chepkemei, Pamela (6 August 2011). "Passaris' turn in the dock in new property battle with tycoon". Daily Nation. Nairobi. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
- ^ ArtMatters.Info (22 September 2008). "Women in Kenya Demand Respect and Recognition". ArtMatters.Info. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
- ^ Moody, Barry (2 July 2007). "Feisty woman challenges Kenya's male culture". Reuters.com. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
- ^ Mayabi, Lordrick (1 February 2013). "Passaris cleared by IEBC for women's rep". Nairobi: 98.4 Capital FM. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
- ^ Githinji (1 May 2025). "The Role of Women Representatives in Kenya". AfroCave. Nairobi: blog.afro.co.ke. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
- ^ Okutoyi, Frankline (24 January 2010). "Interview With A Professional". The Standard (Kenya). Nairobi. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
- ^ Kinyanjui, Maureen (14 August 2022). "Passaris re-elected as Nairobi Woman Representative". The Star. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
- ^ Wandede, Naomi (14 August 2022). ""I'll do everything you taught me": Emotional Passaris dedicates win to late dad". Tuko.co.ke - Kenya news. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
- ^ "IEBC Receives Petition to Recall Esther Passaris". The Kenya Times. 29 July 2025.
- ^ "Esther Passaris pauses Protest Bill, calls for national dialogue". K24. 7 July 2025.
- ^ "Esther Passaris Calls On DCI to Block Mike Sonko's Social Media Pages to Protect Women". TUKO. 24 November 2024.
- ^ "I Will Love You If You Give Me 500K – Listen To Sonko-Passaris Leaked Phone Conversation". Youth Village. 3 June 2019.
- ^ Staff Reporter (28 July 2014). "Woman sues billionaire Ngugi for Sh 9 million upkeep". The Star (Kenya). Nairobi. Archived from the original on 2 August 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
- ^ Capital Lifestyle (26 October 2012). "Esther Passaris' daughter launches singing career". Nairobi: 98.4 Capital FM. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
- ^ Adopt A Light Limited (April 2009). "Submission For Habitat Business Award For Sustainable Urbanization" (PDF). Nairobi. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 August 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2018.