Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has clarified her political position ahead of the 2027 General Election, distancing herself from online posters suggesting she had endorsed a preferred successor.
Passaris, who spoke through a public statement on Thursday, also announced that she will support President William Ruto’s re-election bid, citing confidence in his leadership.
Passaris said several manipulated posters had appeared on social media, prompting her to address what she described as misinterpretations of her political intentions.
She stated that her current mandate remains her priority and stressed that she would not participate in early succession debates linked to the Nairobi Woman Representative seat.
“Let me set the record straight,” she said, noting that the materials circulating online were edited and inaccurate.
According to Passaris, she will have completed two constitutional terms in office by 2027 and believes the Affirmative Action position should be occupied by another woman after that period.
The seat, created under the 2010 Constitution, aims to enhance women’s political representation in counties with significant voter populations such as Nairobi.
Her announcement comes at a time when political parties are quietly shaping their lineups before formal nomination processes begin.
Despite declaring her intention not to seek a third term, Passaris maintained that she has not endorsed anyone as her replacement. She emphasized that her political decisions on Nairobi seats will be guided by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), the party on whose ticket she was twice elected.
She added that ODM’s internal processes and structures would determine the party’s candidates when the nomination period arrives.
However, Passaris took a firm individual stance on the presidency, stating in her published remarks that her preferred candidate in 2027 will be President Ruto. She cited his work ethic and “transformational agenda” for Kenya and the region as the basis of her endorsement.
Her declaration marks a notable alignment with a leader outside her party’s traditional political bloc, a development likely to draw attention within ODM ranks.
Passaris concluded by urging Kenyans to disregard misleading political material and focus on verified information.
She reiterated that her work remains centred on service delivery for Nairobi residents as the country continues to navigate the early stages of the 2027 campaign season.