Nairobi Woman Representative Hon. Esther Passaris has explained why she shelved plans to contest the Makadara parliamentary seat and opted to defend her position as Nairobi Woman Representative in the 2027 General Election.

Passaris said the decision followed extensive consultations and listening to residents, who convinced her that remaining in the Woman Representative position would give her a broader platform to serve Nairobi residents across all 17 constituencies.

According to Passaris, moving to Makadara would have confined her representation to a single constituency, while the Woman Representative position allows her to continue reaching communities across the capital.

“I listened to the people,” Passaris said, explaining that she ultimately considered it wiser to continue serving as Nairobi Woman Representative rather than limit her reach to one constituency.

The decision also carries strategic significance for the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), which Passaris said is keen to protect its existing political footprint in Nairobi while positioning itself to win additional seats.

She acknowledged that ODM did not have a sufficiently strong contender ready to step into her shoes as Woman Representative, another factor that influenced her decision to remain in the position.

For Passaris, the choice is therefore not simply about an individual political ambition but also about protecting the party’s interests and ensuring continuity in a seat that she has held.

She said ODM’s broader objective is to retain all the seats it currently holds while capturing new ones, in what she described as part of the party’s commitment to the legacy and political ideals associated with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, popularly known as Baba.

The Nairobi Woman Representative said the party would therefore approach the 2027 contest with a clear strategy — defend its existing territory, strengthen its grassroots networks and expand its representation.

Her decision to remain in the Woman Representative race effectively ends speculation that she would seek to unseat the incumbent Makadara MP.

Instead, Passaris will be seeking another term with a message centred on maintaining a citywide mandate and continuing to serve Nairobi residents across the county.

Her argument is straightforward: while a constituency seat offers an opportunity to serve one area, the Woman Representative position gives her a platform to reach all corners of Nairobi.

With the 2027 political contest already taking shape, Passaris’ decision also gives ODM greater certainty as it prepares for the battle for Nairobi’s parliamentary seats.

For the party, retaining Passaris in the Woman Representative race means preserving an established candidate while freeing its campaign machinery to focus on defending existing seats and pursuing new opportunities.

Passaris’ message to ODM supporters is equally clear: the party intends to fight to retain what it has, win what it does not have, and strengthen its position across Nairobi — in honour of Baba.