{{Short description|Kenyan politician (born 1964)}} {{Use British English|date=January 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Esther Passaris | image = Esther Passaris.jpg | caption = | office = County woman representative of Nairobi City County | status = <!--if this is specified, overrides incumbent.--> | term_start = 31 August 2017 | term_end = | preceded = Rachel Shebesh | birth_name = Esther Mūthoni Passaris | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1964|10|20}} | birth_place = Mombasa, Kenya | death_date = | death_place = | party = Orange Democratic Movement<br/>(Since 2017)<ref name="1R"/> | children = 2 | alma_mater = '''Strathmore University'''<br/>{{small|(Advanced Management Program)}}<br/>'''University of London'''<br />{{small|(Diploma in Law)}}<br/>'''United States International University Africa'''<br/>{{small|(BSc International Business Administration)}}<ref name="3R"/> , Kenya<ref name="2R">{{cite web| url=https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/corporate/Passaris-in-legal-battle-to-stop-sale-of-Kitusuru-home/539550-2698040-f01rj7z/index.html |title=Passaris in legal battle to stop sale of Kitisuru home |access-date=5 June 2018 |date=26 April 2015 | newspaper=Business Daily Africa |first=Brian |last=Wasuna | location=Nairobi}}</ref> | website = {{URL|esthermpassaris.com}} | signature = }} '''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,<ref name="4R">{{cite web |work=Daily Nation |date=5 June 2018 | url=https://www.nation.co.ke/counties/nairobi/Passaris-asks-Sonko-to-name-her-deputy-governor/1954174-4596530-46lugqz/index.html |title=Passaris asks Sonko to name her as Nairobi deputy governor |author=Collins Omulo |access-date=5 June 2018 |location=Nairobi}}</ref> and a member of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Political Party.<ref name="1R">{{cite web|url=https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/esther-passaris-officially-joins-odm-17946 |title=Esther Passaris Officially Joins ODM |date=2 April 2017 |work=Kenyans.co.ke |author=Alex Isoe |access-date=5 June 2018 |location=Nairobi}}</ref>
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.<ref name="1R"/> She is a public figure in Kenyan business<ref name="5R">{{cite web |title=Women politicians feted for their role in business |access-date=5 June 2018 |url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2016/08/16/women-politicians-feted-for-their-role-in-business_c1403969 |newspaper=The Star (Kenya) |first=Cynthia |last=Ilako |location=Nairobi |archive-date=16 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716140634/https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2016/08/16/women-politicians-feted-for-their-role-in-business_c1403969 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and politics.<ref name="6R">{{cite book |year=2007 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MkhDoDngJxMC |title=Gender and Economic Growth in Kenya: Unleashing the Power of Women |chapter=Chapter 6: Access to Justice |publisher=World Bank Publications |accessdate=9 June 2016| isbn=9780821369203 }}</ref><ref name="7R">{{cite web|title=Voices of Women Entrepreneurs in Kenya | url=http://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/e00d6c0048855a36857cd76a6515bb18/Voices+of+Women+Entrepreneurs+in+Kenya.pdf?MOD=AJPERES |publisher=International Finance Corporation | first=Jozefina |last=Cutura |date=2006 |access-date=5 June 2018 |format=PDF | location=Washington DC}}</ref>
==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.<ref name="8R"/> 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.<ref name="8R">{{cite web |url=https://softkenya.com/kenya/esther-passaris/ |title=Esther Passaris Biography, Career, Husband and Children |access-date=5 June 2018 |date=2012 |author=SoftKenya |publisher=Softkenya.com |location=Nairobi |archive-date=16 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716165559/https://softkenya.com/kenya/esther-passaris/ |url-status=usurped }}</ref> In October 2017, Passaris graduated from the United States International University Africa, in Nairobi, with a BSc International Business Administration.<ref name="3R">{{cite web |url=https://www.sde.co.ke/article/2001254249/how-esther-passaris-achieved-her-dream-of-graduating-from-usiu |title=How Esther Passaris achieved her dream of graduating from USIU |date=October 2017 |publisher=SDE.co.ke |first=Wesley |last=Kipng'enoh |location=Nairobi |access-date=5 June 2018 |archive-date=16 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716140639/https://www.sde.co.ke/article/2001254249/how-esther-passaris-achieved-her-dream-of-graduating-from-usiu |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== 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.<ref name="9R">{{cite web |date=6 August 2011 |newspaper=Daily Nation |location=Nairobi |url=https://www.nation.co.ke/news/Passaris-turn-in-the-dock-in-new-property-battle-with-tycoon-/-/1056/1214606/-/ue9njr/-/index.html |title=Passaris' turn in the dock in new property battle with tycoon |access-date=5 June 2018 |first=Pamela |last=Chepkemei}}</ref> She has been a runner-up in Miss Kenya contest and is actively campaigning for the rights of women in Kenya.<ref name="10R">{{cite web|url=http://artmatters.info/heritage-formerly-culture/2008/09/women-demand-respect-and-recognition-in-kenya/ | title=Women in Kenya Demand Respect and Recognition |author=ArtMatters.Info |publisher=ArtMatters.Info |access-date=5 June 2018 |date=22 September 2008}}</ref>
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."<ref name="11R">{{cite web|title=Feisty woman challenges Kenya's male culture |access-date=5 June 2018 | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-kenya-passaris-idUSL2973481020070702 |date=2 July 2007 |first=Barry |last=Moody |publisher=Reuters.com}}</ref>
Passaris ran for the women's representative for Nairobi County during the 2013 Kenyan general election,<ref name="12R">{{cite web|date=1 February 2013 |url=https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2013/02/passaris-cleared-by-iebc-for-womens-rep/ |title=Passaris cleared by IEBC for women's rep |access-date=5 June 2018 |publisher=98.4 Capital FM |first=Lordrick |last=Mayabi | location=Nairobi}}</ref> and was also a candidate for the post of Mayor of Nairobi. She is currently the Nairobi Women's Representative.<ref name="13R">{{cite web |author=Githinji |date=1 May 2025 |title=The Role of Women Representatives in Kenya |url=https://blog.afro.co.ke/role-of-women-representatives/ |accessdate=1 May 2025 |website=AfroCave |publisher=blog.afro.co.ke |location=Nairobi}}</ref>
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.<ref name="14R">{{cite web|last=Okutoyi | url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/lifestyle/article/2000001578/interview-with-a-professional |title=Interview With A Professional |access-date=5 June 2018 |first=Frankline |newspaper=The Standard (Kenya) |date=24 January 2010 | location=Nairobi}}</ref>
She was re-elected in the 2022 general election.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kinyanjui |first=Maureen |date=14 August 2022 |title=Passaris re-elected as Nairobi Woman Representative |url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/realtime/2022-08-14-passaris-re-elected-as-nairobi-woman-representative/ |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=The Star |language=en-KE}}</ref> She dedicated her victory to her late father.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wandede |first=Naomi |date=2022-08-14 |title="I'll do everything you taught me": Emotional Passaris dedicates win to late dad |url=https://www.tuko.co.ke/politics/467909-esther-passaris-emotional-nairobi-woman-rep-elect-dedicates-victory-late-dad/ |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=Tuko.co.ke - Kenya news. |language=en}}</ref>
==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.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://thekenyatimes.com/latest-kenya-times-news/iebc-receives-petition-to-recall-esther-passaris/ | title=IEBC Receives Petition to Recall Esther Passaris | work=The Kenya Times | date=29 Jul 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | title=Esther Passaris pauses Protest Bill, calls for national dialogue| url=https://k24.digital/411/esther-passaris-pauses-protest-bill-calls-for-national-dialogue | work=K24 | date=7 Jul 2025 | language=en }}</ref> 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 <ref>{{Cite news | title=Esther Passaris Calls On DCI to Block Mike Sonko's Social Media Pages to Protect Women | url=https://www.tuko.co.ke/politics/434692-esther-passaris-call-on-dci-block-mike-sonkos-social-media-pages-protect-women/ | date=24 Nov 2024 | work= TUKO | language=en }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | title=I Will Love You If You Give Me 500K – Listen To Sonko-Passaris Leaked Phone Conversation | url=https://youthvillage.co.ke/i-will-love-you-if-you-give-me-500k-listen-to-sonko-passaris-leaked-phone-conversation/ | work=Youth Village| date=3 Jun 2019 | language=en }}</ref>
==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. {{shilingi|200,000}} (US$2,000), and a car to take their children to and from school.<ref name="15R">{{cite web |url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2014/07/28/woman-sues-billionaire-ngugi-for-sh9m-upkeep_c977982 |newspaper=The Star (Kenya) |access-date=5 June 2018 |date=28 July 2014 |title=Woman sues billionaire Ngugi for Sh 9 million upkeep |author=Staff Reporter |location=Nairobi |archive-date=2 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802115257/http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2014/07/28/woman-sues-billionaire-ngugi-for-sh9m-upkeep_c977982 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In August 2011, Passaris was sued by Ngūgi, claiming she continued to demand more money despite agreeing to a truce in their previous case.<ref name="9R"/> Passaris' daughter and eldest child, Makenna Ngūgi is a singer.<ref name="16R">{{cite web |access-date=6 June 2018 | url=https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/lifestyle/2012/10/26/esther-passaris-daughter-launches-singing-career/ |title=Esther Passaris' daughter launches singing career |date=26 October 2012 |publisher=98.4 Capital FM |author=Capital Lifestyle | location=Nairobi}}</ref>
==Awards== *'''2016''' Most influential women in business and government by CEO Global, South Africa {{Citation needed|date=May 2022}} *'''2009''' UN Habitat Business Awards by UN Habitat<ref name="17R">{{cite web |date= April 2009 |title= Submission For Habitat Business Award For Sustainable Urbanization |access-date= 6 June 2018 |url= http://mirror.unhabitat.org/downloads/docs/6855_19838_AdoptaLight.pdf |location= Nairobi |author= Adopt A Light Limited |archive-date= 31 August 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140831122849/http://mirror.unhabitat.org/downloads/docs/6855_19838_AdoptaLight.pdf |url-status= dead }}</ref> *'''2008''' Order of Grand Warrior (OGW) by former President of Kenya, Mwai Kibaki. {{Citation needed|date=May 2022}}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|esthermpassaris.com}} {{Current MPs of Kenya}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Passaris, Esther}} Category:1964 births Category:Living people Category:People from Mombasa Category:Kikuyu people Category:Kenyan people of Greek descent Category:Kenya National Congress politicians Category:Strathmore University alumni Category:Alumni of the University of London Category:United States International University alumni Category:Orange Democratic Movement politicians Category:21st-century Kenyan women politicians Category:Members of the 12th Parliament of Kenya Category:Members of the 13th Parliament of Kenya Category:Alumni of Aga Khan Academy, Nairobi