A section of Nairobi residents has officially started the process of recalling Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris by filing a petition with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
The move, led by activist Shakira Wafula, was initiated on Monday, July 28, and the electoral body confirmed receipt of the petition on the same day.
According to Wafula and her team, Passaris should be recalled due to multiple alleged violations including abuse of office, failure to carry out her duties, disregard for constitutional principles, and breaking the public’s trust.
The petition cites misconduct, a lack of integrity, failure to represent the interests of Nairobians, and failure to exercise her oversight role effectively and fairly.
“We, the undersigned citizens and registered voters of Nairobi County, submit this petition under Article 104 of the Constitution of Kenya and Section 45 of the Elections Act. We demand the immediate recall of Hon.
Esther Muthoni Passaris, Nairobi Woman Representative,” reads a section of the petition. The document further accuses Passaris of dishonoring the will of the electorate and showing disregard for the principles expected of a public servant.
Following the public disclosure of the petition, many Kenyans online echoed the call for her removal and urged Nairobi voters to step forward and append their signatures to the petition. The recall process, as outlined in the Kenyan Constitution and electoral law, has several key stages.
After the petition is submitted, the second step involves collecting signatures from at least one-third of all registered voters within Nairobi County. Importantly, these signatures must come from voters spread across various wards, not concentrated in one area, to ensure that the petition reflects a broad consensus.
Once the required signatures are collected, IEBC takes over the process and has 30 days to verify the authenticity of the names submitted. If the signatures meet the legal threshold, the Commission will, within 15 days, notify the Speaker of the relevant House about the petition.
Following this, the IEBC is mandated to conduct a recall election within 90 days. During this recall election, voters are asked to decide—through a simple “yes” or “no” vote—whether they want to remove the legislator from office.
If the majority votes for a recall, the IEBC will then be required to organize a by-election in the affected constituency or county.
Interestingly, the law allows a recalled Member of Parliament to contest again in the by-election, should they wish to reclaim their seat.
This petition comes at a time when public calls for the recall of underperforming legislators have been gaining momentum, especially after the IEBC was reconstituted.
IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon recently confirmed that the commission had already received at least four recall petitions targeting different MPs across the country, though he declined to reveal specific names.
In addition to Passaris, residents of North Imenti have also filed a similar petition to remove their MP, Rahim Dawood. The North Imenti group cited four specific grievances against their MP, who has been serving in Parliament for three consecutive terms.
The growing number of petitions appears to be part of a larger national push to hold elected leaders accountable, a movement that gained traction during the Gen Z-led demonstrations in mid-2024.
Many Kenyans are now using the reformed IEBC framework as an opportunity to demand more responsibility, responsiveness, and transparency from their representatives.
With civic engagement on the rise and public frustration with underperforming MPs at an all-time high, the Esther Passaris recall petition could signal a turning point in how Kenyan voters exercise their democratic rights.
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