Esther Passaris shelves Protest Bill after public outcry
Nairobi County Woman Representative Esther Passaris.
Nairobi County Woman Representative Esther Passaris has yielded to public pressure following divergent opinions on her controversial Public Order (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
The bill, which was sponsored by the MP and was set to undergo the pre-publication process, has been halted to allow Kenyans to submit their proposals, a move she said was influenced by input from the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) and other stakeholders.
“I have decided to pause the pre-publication process of the Public Order (Amendment) Bill, 2025 to allow for national dialogue and wide public engagement. This is an invitation to co-create legislation that safeguards constitutional freedoms while ensuring public order,” said Ms Passaris via her social media accounts on Monday.
The announcement comes as Kenyans commemorate Saba Saba Day, a historic day marked on July 7 when nationwide protests were held in 1990 to demand free elections and multiparty democracy.
“I thank NCCK for its bold stance in defending civil liberties but I also challenge our religious institutions to raise the moral bar of public discourse. Let us teach and encourage a culture of peaceful protest, lawful engagement and respectful disagreement values rooted in faith and democracy alike,” she added.
She urged Kenyans to celebrate the day by moving forward not in anger but with shared accountability.
“A just society is not built by force or fear, but by accountability on all sides — from citizens to state officers. It is my hope that this conversation will shift from confrontation to collaboration.”
Ms Passaris’ bill sought to amend the Public Order Act by designating specific areas where Kenyans can assemble and hold demonstrations without interfering with the operations of businesses and the rights of others.
While the bill is perceived by some as a move to restrict how and where protests occur, the MP defended it as a necessary step to curb the rising cases of violence and destruction of property during demonstrations.
However, the bill has drawn widespread criticism, especially from the youth, who are increasingly active in demonstrations and see it as an outdated and regressive measure.
Furthermore, the Orange Democratic Movement, the party that sponsored Passaris to Parliament has disowned the bill.