Advertisement
Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara vs Esther Passaris: What really sparked their dramatic TV clash
20th August, 2026 10:12 PM
A live television debate on women in leadership descended into a heated confrontation after Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara and Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris clashed over Kenya’s political history and the 2007/2008 post-election violence.
The exchange, which aired live on local TV station on Thursday August 20, 2026, quickly escalated from a political discussion into a shouting match, forcing the moderator to intervene and temporarily mute the lawmakers’ microphones.
How the clash started
The disagreement began when the panel discussion turned to political incitement and the conduct of leaders ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Passaris challenged Kihara over the political events surrounding the 2007/2008 post-election violence, making a reference to Naivasha and Kihara’s alleged involvement in the events.
“When I think of Naivasha, and I think of 2007, Jane, you were right at the centre of all that mess,” Passaris said.
The remarks appeared to anger Kihara, who strongly rejected the allegations and demanded that Passaris specify what offence she had committed.
Kihara also pointed out that she had never been formally indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Kihara hits back
As the exchange became increasingly heated, Kihara slammed a newspaper on the table and challenged Passaris over the allegations.
The Naivasha MP accused her counterpart of making unfounded claims and insisted that she knew what had happened in Naivasha.
At one point, Kihara told Passaris, “Don’t be silly!”
She later added, “You’re being stupid now!” as the confrontation intensified.
Kihara also made a threat to physically confront Passaris, saying, “I could hit her! She has no idea about what happened in Naivasha!”
She subsequently referred to Passaris as a “mad woman.”
Passaris refuses to back down
Rather than withdraw her claims, Passaris continued challenging Kihara and drew attention to her reaction during the confrontation.
“You see how violent she can be?” Passaris said.
The exchange highlighted the extent to which political disagreements surrounding the 2007/2008 post-election violence remain sensitive more than a decade later.
Moderator forced to intervene
With both lawmakers refusing to back down, the TV moderator Fred Indimuli stepped in to restore order.
The moderator temporarily muted both microphones as the shouting continued.
Kihara was later seen attempting to remove her lapel microphone, indicating that she did not want to continue sharing the platform with Passaris.
The dramatic exchange has since generated debate over the conduct of political leaders during live broadcasts, as well as the enduring political divisions surrounding the 2007/2008 post-election violence.
It also underscored how discussions about Kenya’s political past can quickly become personal, particularly when allegations of responsibility for past violence are raised against sitting leaders.
