Nairobi Woman Rep Passaris responds to Nairobi Governor Sonko

Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has finally broken her silence on Governor Mike Sonko’s allegations that she had been demanding money from him.

Speaking at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Passaris said she knew many people expected her to respond immediately after the allegations, but she chose to act with integrity and follow the law.

"I have chosen to act with integrity and follow the Constitution. I will not go down that route," Passaris said shortly after landing from Canada.

The Nairobi Woman Rep went on to say that she will visit the office of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the Ethics and Anti- Corruption Commission (EACC) and the office of National Cohesion so that the matter could be looked into.

"This time I'm not letting it go, I will use every single rule and law to ensure that this is the last time that somebody uses falsehood to bring down a woman leader," she said.

The feud between Sonko and Passaris started during the Madaraka Day celebration when the Governor told the Nairobi Women Rep to stop going round telling people that he does not answer her phone calls.

***Nairobi Woman Rep Esther Passaris and Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko during the 56th Madaraka Day celebrations at the Pumwani Police Grounds.***

The issue later escalated when Sonko accused Passaris of demanding for money from him during a live TV interview.

Last week, Youth and Gender affairs CS Margaret Kobia strongly condemned the attacks aimed at Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris, terming them worrying.

Through a statement seen by Standard Digital, Kobia expressed her concern at the ongoing onslaught on women in leadership positions in the country.

“Today I join other women leaders in condemning the recent unfortunate attacks directed at Hon Esther Passaris...

“Many other Kenyan women experience these assaults and continue suffering in silence. No woman deserves to suffer the ignominy of such public utterances,” she said.

Further, the CS pointed out that the normalization of gender-based violence is worrying and sets a bad precedent.