By Patricia Mollyne Mataga
Nairobi City will have a new County Woman Member of Parliament in 2027. This is after the current holder of the seat Esther Passaris declared that she will not be seeking another term.
In an undated video shared by Kileleshwa Member of County Assembly (MCA) Robert Alai, Passaris said she is no longer interested in the seat.
She is currently serving the second term following her re-election in 2022 on a Jubilee Party ticket under the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition.
“2027 I am not interested in the Woman Rep seat,” Passaris declared in part of the video.
“I have said that I have served for two terms and that is it for me,” she added.
While making the announcement that is set to give Nairobi politics a new dimension, Passaris also announced her preferred successor.
She named Cecilia Karanja as one fit to take over.
Cecilia was among the aspirants for the seat on a Jubilee ticket in 2022. However, she dropped from the race in favour of Passaris.
“Cecilia campaigned for me 100% and I can tell you that you’re the one that I am looking at. I want Cecilia to take over as the woman representative,” she noted.
The announcement has already been criticized by a section of politicians in Nairobi.
Alai, while sharing the video, questioned the Women Rep’s authority to declare who is fit to succeed her.
“While others are campaigning to be made kingpins, Passaris is already a kingpin and even goes ahead allocating elective seats to potential inheritors. Huyu mama naye!,” the ODM ward representative said.
Despite being elected under the Azimio ticket, the Woman MP has been supporting government projects.
In 2023, she supported the controversial Finance Act despite the Azimio coalition opposing it. She is also on record declaring that she will support the 2024 Finance Act – although sections of the proposed laws have been opposed by Azimio.