Passaris calls for an end to demos
By Isaac Mutia, July 9, 2025Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has called for an end to demonstrations and politics.
Passaris said an end to politics and protests will ensure the nation begins to heal after what it has witnessed in recent days.
“Dr. John Khaminwa’s counsel is both timely and sobering. ‘Saba Saba was a noble instrument of peaceful resistance, not a licence for chaos. Let us not dance on a volcano. If it erupts, we all suffer’. As leaders, citizens, and youth, may we choose wisdom over war. Stop the protests. Pause the politics. Begin the healing. Let’s channel our anger into rebuilding our economy, not burning our nation,” Passaris said in an X post on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, quoting Senior Counsel John Khaminwa.
Passaris references Dr. John Khaminwa’s call to honour the 1990 Saba Saba pro-democracy movement’s peaceful roots, contrasting it with recent violent protests in Kenya, where at least 31 deaths were reported on July 7, 2025, per the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, amid calls for President William Ruto’s resignation.
Her plea to stop protests and focus on economic rebuilding aligns with historical data showing Kenya’s GDP growth dropped from 7.5% in 2022 to an estimated 4.8% in 2025 due to unrest, according to World Bank projections, highlighting the economic toll of prolonged conflict.
This statement comes days after anti-government protests in Kenya, marked by significant violence, including the reported deaths of 11 people and injuries to dozens during similar demonstrations.
The protests are driven by issues such as corruption, police brutality, and economic grievances, with social media playing a crucial role in mobilising and amplifying the movement, as seen with the trending hashtag #SiriNiNumbers, which underscores the power of collective action in challenging authority.
Passaris’ call to stop protests and rebuild the economy is pragmatic, given the economic data, but it clashes with the protesters’ demand for systemic change. The 1990 Saba Saba succeeded through persistence despite repression, suggesting that halting protests now might delay addressing root causes like corruption and inequality.