Blow to Esther Passaris as ODM Disowns Her Draconian Protests Bill: "Nothing To Do With It"
- Nairobi woman representative Esther Passaris proposed an anti-demonstration bill that would bar protests outside Parliament and other protected areas
- The proposal included penalties for those who violated it once it was approved by Parliament and passed as law
- However, the Raila-led Orange Democratic Movement party, in which Passaris belongs to has highlighted the reasons why they disowned the proposal
Faith Chandianya, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and Current Affairs in Kenya
Nairobi woman representative Esther Passaris found herself in the spotlight after she proposed a bill that prohibits protests outside Parliament.
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In response to this, the Raila Odinga Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), the party to which Passaris belongs to has set the record straight about their stance on the matter.
Did ODM disown Passaris' proposal?
Suna East MP and the National Assembly Minority leader, Junet Mohamed, seemingly hinted that the party has distanced itself from the Passaris' anti-demonstrations bill.
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"ODM has nothing to do with the Bill, it's a private member's Bill, it belongs to the individual member, not us," Junet told Nation.
Junet, however, affirmed that the proposal is yet to become a bill as it has not yet been published or gone through the full process.
"The budget committee has to check if the bill has financial implications before the speaker determines whether the bill should be passed or not," he added.
He stated that the bill stands a 50-50 chance of being passed by the members of the National Assembly.
When the bill was being considered, Nyakach MP Aduma Owour and Kisumu MP Rosa Buyu, both of whom belong to the ODM party, stated that the bill is unlikely to change the state of the country.
The lawmakers questioned how people will be prohibited from reaching certain areas of the Nairobi Central Business District, yet the area can be accessed from different points.
What are consequences of breaking Passaris' proposal
The woman representative stated that there would be penalties for those who defy the proposal once the National Assembly approves it.
The Public Order Amendment Bill 2025 seeks to prevent demonstrators from being allowed to protest within a radius of 100 metres from the Parliament.
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The bill proposes strict consequences, including a conviction or a payment of fine for any individual who breaks the law.
Those who break the law would face a fine not below KSh 100,000 or imprisonment not exceeding a period of three months or both.
Passaris' proposal also stated that protected areas and buildings in which courtrooms are located should be out of bounds for protesting Kenyans.
Cabinet secretaries were given the authority to designate assembly and demonstration zones in the capital city and other urban areas.
She stated that her reason for making the anti-protest bill proposal was because she saw the need to ensure that protesters do not violate other people's rights as they practise their own.
He stated that although the majority of protesters have good intentions, there are a few rogue ones who turn them into chaos.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
