Esther Passaris has once again shown just how disconnected she is from the realities that ordinary Kenyans face.
Her latest remarks following the death of Julia Njoki, a young woman who died in police custody in Laikipia, have sparked outrage from Gen Zs and the general public.
Instead of standing in solidarity with the youth and demanding answers from the police, Passaris gave a cold and careless response that has deeply hurt many.
By saying “Julia Njoki is gone and nothing can bring her back,” Passaris dismissed the pain, anger, and grief that many Kenyans are feeling.
This is not just about death. It is about accountability. It is about justice. And it is about a growing pattern of abuse by state officers that has gone unanswered.
For a woman who was elected to fight for the rights of women and the youth in Nairobi, her response was nothing short of betrayal.
Rather than taking an active role in demanding justice for Julia, Passaris shifted responsibility to the Woman Representative of Laikipia, Jane Kagiri.
While Kagiri may be the rep from Njoki’s home county and where the incident occurred, it was still Passaris’s duty as a national leader to speak up and support calls for justice.
Instead of offering leadership and pushing for action, she passed the burden to someone else, washing her hands clean.
The irony is that she asked for an independent post-mortem while saying the case is a “done deal.” What does she really mean?
That we should all move on while hoping something happens behind the scenes?
That Julia’s family, friends, and the nation should stop asking questions because nothing can be done?
Her tone, dismissive and distant, shows why so many Gen Zs have rejected her. Young people today are not afraid to speak out.
They are not interested in old-school politics of excuses, deflection, and politeness when lives are being lost.
Passaris was elected by the people of Nairobi to be their voice. But her actions in this case show that she is more interested in protecting her position than standing with the people.
Her silence in the past on police brutality cases and now her insensitive tweet only confirm what many have suspected she is no longer fit to represent the city’s vulnerable.
Nairobi needs leaders who care, who speak boldly, and who take action, not those who wait for others to do the work while tweeting meaningless statements.
The backlash from Gen Zs is not just online noise. It is the sound of a generation tired of leaders who refuse to lead.
Esther Passaris has failed Nairobi’s women, failed the youth, and most importantly, failed Julia Njoki.
