Esther Passaris, the Nairobi County Woman Representative, is now facing a growing public push to have her recalled from office.
The reason behind this backlash is her sponsorship of the Public Order (Amendment) Bill 2025, a proposed law that seeks to ban protests near important government institutions such as State House, Parliament, and the Judiciary.
While Passaris has defended the bill by saying it is meant to protect national security, many Kenyans believe it limits their constitutional right to peaceful assembly.
This disagreement has created a lot of tension, especially on social media where users are calling for her removal.
The public’s anger started building immediately after the bill became public. Hashtags like #ByeByePassaris and #77NiNumbers began trending on X, with many users sharing posts demanding that Passaris be recalled.
People are accusing her of betraying the Constitution and working against the public interest. One user said the public must start collecting signatures to remove her.
Another claimed she should focus on modelling instead of politics. Others warned her that the movement was growing and she would soon be out of office if she did not withdraw the bill.
Faced with this growing criticism, Passaris decided to pause the bill’s pre-publication process on July 7, 2025. She said the aim was to allow space for national dialogue and public input.
However, many believe the move came too late, and some feel she only paused the bill to reduce the pressure.
People are still angry and continue organizing signature drives on social media, with some even planning full weeks dedicated to spreading awareness and collecting support to remove her.
Reports from local media confirm that there is strong public opposition, even though it’s still unclear whether the formal process of recalling her has officially begun.
Under Kenyan law, a recall can only happen if 30% of the registered voters in a constituency sign a petition, followed by a referendum. It is a difficult process, but not impossible.
Given the strength of the online campaign and the number of people expressing frustration with her actions, Passaris could be in real political trouble if the movement continues to grow.
The situation remains tense, and many are waiting to see if the growing online protest will turn into actual legal action. Either way, the incident shows how sensitive Kenyans are to anything that threatens their constitutional rights.
