Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris found herself at the center of a heated exchange with activists during a femicide protest held at Jeevanjee Gardens on Saturday, January 27, 2024. Passaris was compelled to cut short her address as a section of the protesters expressed discontent, accusing her of remaining silent amid the surge in femicide cases in the country.
Trouble erupted when Passaris took to the makeshift podium to address the gathering of activists. The atmosphere turned rowdy, with the group shouting down the lawmaker and demanding answers for her perceived lack of action in the face of escalating femicide incidents.
A portion of the protesters voiced their frustration, urging Passaris to leave and questioning her whereabouts during the previous incidents. The chants of “Where were you? Go home! Where were you!” reverberated through the crowd, reflecting the disillusionment of some activists who felt that Passaris had not been vocal enough on the issue.
And that’s my vote being heckled#EndFemicideKE #TotalShutDownKE pic.twitter.com/VLzEbyaqXo
— Melvine Thogo (@ThogoMelvine) January 27, 2024
As tensions escalated, Passaris’s security detail intervened, prompting her to step down from the podium. The security team swiftly moved into action to ensure her safety after the activists, protesting the rising cases of femicide, continued to heckle the Woman Representative.
Despite the challenging situation, Passaris chose to join the activists in their peaceful march. During the procession, she was presented with a petition by the demonstrators, urging her to present the same in the National Assembly. The petition likely includes demands for urgent legislative action and increased efforts to address and prevent femicide in the country.
The peaceful demonstration marked a unified call to action against the brutal violence that women in Kenya have been facing. The incident involving Passaris highlights the complex relationship between public figures and the expectations of citizens, particularly in times of social unrest.
As the femicide protest continues to bring attention to the urgent need for action, it is anticipated that the incident involving Passaris will spur further discussions on the role of lawmakers and public figures in addressing issues of gender-based violence in Kenya. The collective demand for change echoes through the streets, emphasizing the pressing need for tangible solutions to end femicide and create a safer environment for women in the country.
