A section of the Nairobi residents has already filed a petition with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to recall Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris. The petition, which is based on alleged constitutional breaches, abuse of office, neglect of duty, and breach of public trust, comes as the IEBC has formally started to look at an increasing number of such petitions nationwide.
The trend is a landmark in Kenya in the context of democracy, with a rising civic participation and an increasing resort to constitutional means by the people to bring their leaders to book.
The petition is one of the many civic movements in Kenya, which have been motivated by economic hardships, youth unemployment, and governance discontent. The protests that have gone on for weeks in June and July 2025 have put both the elected officials and the security agencies under scrutiny, with claims of police brutality and general anger over the increased cost of living.
The 2010 Constitution of Kenya gives citizens the right to recall an elected representative who does not perform their mandate. The process of recalling starts with a petition that is formal and is accompanied by evidence and signatures, and then the IEBC considers it. In the event that the commission determines that the petition is constitutional, the second step is signature verification and possibly a recall referendum.
Although the process has not been utilized much, recent unrest seems to be revitalizing a new movement of public accountability.
The IEBC has today confirmed that it has received and started to review various recall petitions, including the one against Passaris. The Nairobi petition was filed by a group of residents who accuse the Woman Representative of not representing their interests successfully, at 3.38 PM on July 28.
The petitioners have accused Passaris of failing to perform her duties, not delivering on major services, and not being able to consult with the electorate. In the event that the petition passes the legal bar, the IEBC will administer the process of gathering and validating supporting signatures of registered voters in Nairobi County, which is a major step in initiating a recall vote.
IEBC spokesperson said the commission is doing everything by the book as stipulated in the Constitution and the Elections Act. The petitions will be considered on merit and supporting documents individually.
Although Passaris has not yet made any official comment on the petition, political leaders and civil society organizations have begun to comment. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, in previous comments this month, emphasized the need to give the IEBC space to work. He said, Let the Commission go about its business without intimidation or interference.
The recall wave is being seen as a step in the right direction by civic groups, especially youth-led organizations. A youth representative in Nakuru said, “We are now witnessing citizens taking their space in governance.” Leadership should be earned on a continuous basis, not every five years as the Constitution envisaged.
This was echoed by political commentator Geoffrey Ndege, who posted on X: “Kenya youth are making their voice heard. This is a democratic turning point, where people are faced with debt, frustration, and police brutality.”
In the event that the recall petition against Passaris is successful, it may become a precedent as one of the first national-level recalls in Kenya under its 2010 Constitution. The move can give courage to other county citizens to seek the same accountability and increase the performance standards of the elected leaders.
Nevertheless, analysts warn that such petitions should be treated with responsibility to prevent them from being used as a political vendetta tool or further division of the existing differences. These developments may radically transform the Kenyan political landscape and citizen expectations of leadership on the eve of the 2027 general elections.
The petition to recall Esther Passaris, now under formal review by the IEBC, highlights Kenya’s evolving democratic culture — one in which citizens are no longer waiting for election cycles to demand accountability. While the path ahead is complex, the process demonstrates that constitutional tools for civic redress are being activated.
As the IEBC continues to assess the petition, all eyes are on Nairobi — not just for the fate of one representative, but for what it signals about the future of political participation in Kenya.
Citizens are encouraged to stay informed, engage peacefully, and continue advocating for transparent governance. The IEBC is expected to provide official updates on the status of all pending petitions in the days ahead.
