Esther Passaris blasts Embakasi East MP Babu Owino for slur on Uhuru

Esther Passaris with Babu Owino (Photo: Courtesy)

Nairobi County Woman Representative Esther Passaris has condemned derogatory remarks made by Embakasi East MP, Babu Owino, against President Uhuru Kenyatta’s mother, Mama Ngina Kenyatta, during a campaign rally in Westlands and Dagoretti North on Sunday.

Ms Passaris, indicated that Mr Owino crossed the line and such utterances should not be made by any political leader.

She pointed out that the remarks made by the MP do not reflect the character of the National Super Alliance leader (NASA), Raila Odinga, or the coalition principals.

“As a mother, I sincerely apologize to the former First Lady, Her Excellency Mama Ngina Kenyatta, and her family over the insult and disrespect meted on her, which neither depicts nor reflects the character or direction envisaged by our Party leader The Rt Hon. Raila Odinga and the NASA principals,” Passaris posted on social media.

She added that freedom of speech comes with responsibility and urged Kenyans and politicians to observe caution when issuing statements in public.

“Freedom of speech comes with responsibility, and I beg my fellow politicians and Kenyans on both sides of the divide not to abuse this freedom - whether on social media or otherwise,” Passaris concluded.

 

Passaris’s statement:

I would like to condemn in the strongest terms possible the utterances made by my fellow MP Babu Owino during our campaign rally in Westlands and Dagoretti North yesterday. No matter how big our differences or how low we think of each other, there is a line that should not be crossed.

As a mother, I sincerely apologize to the former First Lady, Her Excellency Mama Ngina Kenyatta, and her family over the insult and disrespect meted on her, which neither depicts nor reflects the character or direction envisaged by our Party leader The Rt Hon. Raila Odinga and the NASA principals.

Freedom of speech comes with responsibility, and I beg my fellow politicians and Kenyans on both sides of the divide not to abuse this freedom - whether on social media or otherwise.