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Passaris: I stand firmly with Ruto, leadership is about progress not personal grudges

“Leadership is not about tearing others down but about building a better future.”

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by EMMANUEL WANJALA

News29 July 2025 - 16:10
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In Summary


  • Passaris has chosen to align herself with Ruto’s vision, a move that aligns with party leader Raila Odinga's stance following the signing of an MoU in March with the ruling UDA. 
  • She insisted that her leadership is guided by principles of service and order, not loyalty to political feuds.
Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris. /ESTHER PASSARIS/X

Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has declared her unwavering support for President William Ruto, distancing herself from what she termed as destructive political battles between the opposition and the government.

Passaris, an ODM-elected MP, said she would not be drawn into what she sees as a supremacy contest that is increasingly taking the shape of personalised attacks rather than policy-driven engagement.

In a statement posted on X on Tuesday, she said her focus remains on delivering development and preserving order in a charged political environment.

“I stand firmly with William Ruto because leadership is about progress, not personal grudges,” she wrote.

Her comments come at a time when a vocal faction of the opposition, comprising former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, and Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, has intensified its criticism of the Kenya Kwanza administration.

Despite being part of the opposition under the ODM banner, Passaris has chosen to align herself with Ruto’s vision, a move that aligns with party leader Raila Odinga's stance following the signing of an MoU in March with the ruling UDA. 

She insisted that her leadership is guided by principles of service and order, not loyalty to political feuds.

“Leadership is not about tearing others down but about building a better future,” Passaris said.

She defended her controversial Public Order Bill, which seeks to limit protests near critical national infrastructure such as Parliament.

Critics have accused her of attempting to curtail the right to peaceful assembly, but Passaris insists the Bill is about ensuring safety and preserving public order.

“My Public Order Bill is grounded in values of protecting lives, upholding order, and ensuring that freedom does not descend into chaos,” she said.

The legislation was prompted by the June 25 protests against the Finance Bill, during which Gen Z demonstrators breached Parliament’s security barricades and set part of the building on fire, a shocking development that raised questions about the state’s capacity to balance rights with security.

Passaris maintained that while the constitution guarantees the right to protest, it also demands responsible exercise of that right.

Her Bill, she argued, does not target expression but seeks to safeguard life and property.

“We must ensure that freedom does not turn into anarchy,” she stated.

Addressing her political rivals ahead of the 2027 elections, Passaris challenged those eyeing her Nairobi seat to focus on delivering value to the electorate instead of engaging in smear campaigns.

“Those who want my seat must show what they can offer, not attempt to destroy what I’ve built. True leaders rise by lifting others, not by pulling them down.”

She drew from the wisdom of global statesmen to reinforce her message, quoting Nelson Mandela: One of the mistakes which some political analysts make is to think that their enemies should be our enemies.”

In an apparent attempt to encourage women to support female aspirants during elections, she borrowed a line from former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

"There is a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women."

And to seemingly affirm that leadership is God-given, Passaris ended her statement anchored in faith: “I am chosen, not forsaken… I am who He says I am.”

With tensions between opposition factions and the government showing no signs of abating, Passaris’ alignment with Ruto’s camp signals a bold break from the expectations of party loyalists and sets the stage for fresh political realignments in Nairobi as 2027 approaches.

Speaking recently while defending ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna for declaring the ODM-UDA working relationship 'dead', party leader Raila Odinga encouraged dissenting voices within the Orange party not to be afraid to speak their mind, including criticising his leadership style. 

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