Esther Passaris Pauses Controversial Protest Bill to Allow National Dialogue Ahead of Saba Saba

• Passaris Backs Down on Protest Bill Amid Public Outcry and Church Appeal

Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has postponed the pre-publication of her controversial Public Order (Amendment) Bill 2025, just hours before nationwide Saba Saba demonstrations began.

In a statement released Monday morning, Passaris attributed the decision to a period of personal reflection, following a statement by the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) issued on Sunday. The bill, which sought to ban protests within 100 meters of key government facilities, has sparked strong reactions from both civic bodies and the public.

“I have chosen to delay the pre-publication of the Public Order (Amendment) Bill 2025 to create room for national conversations and inclusive public engagement,” Passaris said. “This pause is a call to jointly craft laws that uphold constitutional freedoms while preserving peace and order.”

While Passaris acknowledged the influence of the church’s perspective, she also challenged religious institutions to take a more active role in elevating public dialogue and promoting civic values. She urged the NCCK to champion a culture of peaceful demonstrations, legal protest practices, and respectful disagreement   principles she described as “grounded in both faith and democratic ideals.”

In her address, Passaris also called upon citizens to act with responsibility during the Saba Saba Day commemorations, urging both demonstrators and government officials to approach the moment with “shared accountability rather than hostility.”

The now-paused bill, initially presented on July 1, aimed to prohibit public assemblies in proximity to vital government buildings such as Parliament, the Judiciary, and State House. It included proposed penalties of up to Ksh100,000 in fines or three months imprisonment for violators.

Critics of the proposal said it infringed on the constitutional right to assemble and picket. The NCCK, among others, pushed back strongly, advocating for the protection of protest rights and condemning the increasing hostility by law enforcement towards demonstrators.

In its statement, the NCCK expressed concern over recent directives particularly Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen’s alleged authorization for the use of force against protestors and reminded authorities of the importance of protecting democratic freedoms, especially on the symbolic Saba Saba Day, which commemorates Kenya’s shift toward multi-party democracy in 1990.

“As we remember Saba Saba, a day rooted in our nation’s fight for justice and democratic reform, I want to affirm my alignment with the voices of conscience like NCCK,” Passaris concluded in her statement.