Passaris calls for end of demonstrations following Julia Njoki’s death
Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has called on the youths to stop demonstrations following the death of Julia Njoki, who died at Nanyuki police station after she was arrested during Saba Saba protests on July 7, 2025.
In a statement on Saturday, July 12, 2025, Passaris called for an end to political rallies and called for peace in the country.
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“We cannot keep turning people into hashtags. We must heed the call of the church. We need healing. We need peace. We need a plan. Stop the rallies. Stop the demos,” she said.
The lawmaker expressed deep sorrow over Julia’s death, joining growing public demands for transparency and accountability from the National Police Service and investigative agencies.
Further, Passaris has urged for an independent post-mortem to be conducted by government pathologists.
“Julia Njoki is gone, and nothing can bring her back. I know the Woman Representative of Laikipia, Hon Jane Kagiri, is following up, and like many of you, I await a statement from the National Police Service, the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). Justice delayed is justice denied. I only hope the government pathologists will conduct an independent postmortem,” she stated.
Reflecting on Kenya’s violent past, including the 2007 post-election violence, Passaris appealed to citizens to channel their frustrations into civic action rather than violence.
“Register as voters. Prepare to exercise your democratic power in 2027. During the 2007 post-election violence, we compensated for loss of property but not loss of life, not for those raped, maimed, or traumatised. That must change,” she added.
Additionally, she has called for national reconciliation, saying the country cannot be built while Kenyans fight each other.
“I love my country. Kenya is not perfect. But every day, I wake up and try to make it better. And I know I’m not alone. But we can’t build our beloved country with our hands around each other’s throats. Let’s call a truce. Let’s declare a ceasefire for the souls lost, the wounded, and the grieving,” she said.
Njoki’s death comes barely a month after the death of Albert Ojwang, a 30-year-old teacher and blogger, who died in a police cell at Central Police Station in Nairobi.
The police initially said that Ojwang had died of self-inflicted wounds, but a later examination of his body revealed head trauma, neck compression, and bruises and lacerations across the body.
