Esther Passaris defends herself after backlash on Kiswahili fluency
Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has defended herself after facing criticism over her poor command of the Kiswahili language.
In a response shared on her X account on Sunday, September 21, 2025, Passaris admitted that she is not fluent in Kiswahili but said that has never stopped her from excelling in life. She encouraged Kenyans not to be ashamed of their weaknesses but instead to embrace them.
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She explained that her knowledge of Kiswahili was shaped largely by her political journey rather than formal education. According to her, life is not about excelling in every area but about embracing one’s strengths while acknowledging weaknesses.
She stressed the importance of self-acceptance, saying that true love and confidence begin with appreciating oneself fully, including both strengths and imperfections.
She added that while many people may admire an individual for their positive traits, it is those who stand by them despite their flaws who truly embody genuine love and support.
“One can fail a subject and still excel in life. I learnt the Swahili I speak on my political trail. My take on life. You do not need to have an A to excel. We all have different talents, and the sky is not the limit. Go for your dreams. Own your cracks. Do you. Be you. I am perfectly imperfect. I own my story. I’m in love with the whole of me, the good, the bad, the ugly, notwithstanding. Why? Because everyone can love me for my good points. It’s those who love me, irrespective of my flaws, that truly love me. Love starts within, not without,” Passaris stated.
Her remarks came after a social media user questioned how a Kenyan leader could fail to know Kiswahili.
“The part that baffles me the most is that I failed Kiswahili, picked a few Italian phrases, a few Greek swear words… Failing to know kikuyu sina shida nayo, lakini kukosa kujua swahili, na wewe ni mkenya. I’ve no proper word to describe that,” the critic posted.
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This comes months after Passaris had dismissed the importance of being identified by tribe, following an X user’s question about whether she had Indian roots due to her appearance.
In response, she clarified that her background is Greek, Kikuyu, and Dutch.
“Greeks have very similar features to Indians. Pitch black hair and pointed noses. I am a child of the universe.”
She stressed that tribal heritage should not define identity, adding that it holds no significance in critical moments such as needing blood or organ donations.
