Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris on Monday, May 18, was embroiled in a spat with Lawyer Nelson Havi over two major demolitions in the city.
Havi, the President of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), called out the legislator for not advocating for women and children who had been affected in the demolitions.
"Honourable Esther Muthoni Passaris, the record indicates that you are the Woman Representative for Kariobangi and Ruai in Nairobi County. Why are your people in Ruai and Kariobangi being evicted at night, during the curfew and in the midst of Covid-19?" he posed.
Acknowledging that she was the Nairobi representative, Passaris noted that the lawyer too could play a role for the affected people.
The Woman Representative called on the advocate to offer his legal services for free to the residents.
"Records notwithstanding. It is time to go to court, get your best teams of professional lawyers pro-bono to serve not just Ruai but also Kariobangi, Kayole and other innocent and unsuspecting Kenyans; duped by Nairobi County Government, Nairobi City Council and City Council of Nairobi," she stated.
Passaris went further and called for a multi-sector approach to the situation adding that more state bodies had to deal with the demolitions row collectively.
"The injustices of our country need goodwill from the Executive, the Judiciary and the two houses of Parliament as Government. No 'one' leader can bring the change that our country needs. The media, the religious leaders, civil society, and citizens also have a big role to play," she added.
Passaris is not the only leader who's come under fire for inaction over demolitions that have left thousands homeless.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Passaris stated that the Interior Minister Fred Matiang'i had assured that the demolitions would not proceed.
"He gave us his word that they would not continue as per the President's directive and neither would evictions gotten by unscrupulous land grabbers be carried out with the police under this period," she stated.
Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja on Sunday, May 17, defended himself stating that he had vehemently protested both the Kariobangi North and Ruai demolitions in the Senate.
On the other hand, Interior CS Fred Matiang'i while addressing the Senate on May 11, stated that the evictions should not have been carried out owing to a presidential directive to halt evictions until the end of the Covid- 19 pandemic.
