NAIROBI, Kenya- Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has moved to shut down speculation that she has endorsed Senator Karen Nyamu as her preferred successor in the 2027 General Election.
The two-term legislator, who recently announced she will not seek re-election, has been at the centre of a political storm after sections of the public interpreted her remarks at a public event as an endorsement of the UDA senator.
The controversy began after a now widely circulated video showed Passaris urging Nyamu to be bold about her political future.
In the clip, Passaris appeared to prod the senator not to hedge or play coy about her intentions for the Nairobi Woman Representative race.
“Karen is not bold enough,” she said in what many believed was light-hearted banter. “I said I was not going to run … If I have done it for two terms, I need to look for something else to do.”
She then added that Nyamu should stop saying she was ‘thinking about it’ and instead run for the seat.
Those remarks were quickly interpreted as an endorsement — a political blessing from an outgoing incumbent to a potential successor.
But Passaris has since clarified that her comments were not a declaration of support for any particular candidate, insisting that the video was taken out of context.
Passaris issued a firm statement saying she has not endorsed anyone for the Woman Rep seat.
According to Passaris, claims of her backing Nyamu or any other aspirant are based on misinterpretations and social-media graphics that she says have been deliberately edited to create a false impression.
“To be clear, I have not endorsed anyone for the Nairobi Woman Representative seat,” Passaris said in response to circulating posters featuring her name and image alongside Nyamu’s. “It is far too early for that. I will not be drawn into political games or dragged into a narrative that does not reflect my position.”
The legislator also revealed that some of the posters circulating online were “manipulated graphics”, adding that she had no involvement in their creation. She dismissed them as part of a growing trend of misinformation in political conversations, especially as the 2027 election cycle gains momentum.
Passaris reiterated that while she has chosen to step down after two terms, she intends to remain neutral until her party, ODM, follows its internal processes to identify a candidate. She stressed that the Nairobi Woman Rep seat is not one to be determined by personal endorsements but by transparent party procedures and the electorate.
“I have served Nairobi for two terms, and I believe in allowing other women to lead through the affirmative action framework,” she said. “However, the decision on who carries the party flag will be made within ODM. That is not something I can pre-empt.”
Karen Nyamu, on her part, has not directly addressed the endorsement saga. The UDA senator, known for her strong presence in Nairobi politics and online spaces, has previously expressed interest in expanding her political reach but has not formally launched a bid for the Woman Rep seat. Her supporters have, however, celebrated the earlier clip of Passaris’s remarks as a signal of cross-party acknowledgment of her growing political stature.
