The Esther Passaris Makadara MP bid has Nairobi politics heating up early as the Nairobi Woman Representative confirmed her plan to run for the parliamentary seat in 2027 under the ODM banner. Esther Passaris made the announcement during a candid interview on Radio 47, explaining why she wants to shift from county-wide duties to representing one specific constituency.
She told listeners the Woman Representative role comes with huge expectations but very limited funds. You get asked to fix roads, build schools and sort out every problem in the whole county, yet the budget stays small, she said. Moving to Makadara would let her focus resources on one area and deliver real change people can see and touch.
Makadara covers bustling neighbourhoods like Buruburu, Maringo, Jericho and parts of Pipeline with roughly 129000 registered voters. The seat carries weight in Nairobi politics and has seen big names pass through.
Passaris revealed that Aladwa supports her bid and might step aside to chase the Nairobi gubernatorial race in 2027, leaving the path clearer for her.
The decision ties closely to Raila Odinga’s brother, Oburu Odinga, who now leads ODM after taking over from the former prime minister. Passaris said she has spoken with Oburu and received his blessing to contest under the party ticket. With ODM primaries expected to heat up soon, her early declaration puts her ahead of any surprise challengers.
Passaris built her public profile through years of activism and her Adopt-a-Light Foundation, which installs street lights in dark corners of the city. That work gave her strong name recognition in informal settlements and middle-class estates alike.
She argues the same hands-on approach would serve Makadara well, pointing to persistent issues like poor drainage, flooding during rains, clogged sewers and youth unemployment.
Residents in the constituency have mixed feelings. Some welcome the idea of a high-profile MP who can attract attention and possibly extra development funds.
Traders in Buruburu market say they need someone who understands small business struggles and can push for better infrastructure. Others worry she might treat the seat as a stepping stone rather than a long-term commitment.
Online chatter picked up quickly after the interview aired. Supporters posted old photos of her lighting up streets and helping during floods with captions like, ‘She already does the work; let her do more.’
Critics asked why she waited until now to switch and whether ODM would give her an easy nomination over local hopefuls who have been grinding in the area for years.
Aladwa has not made a public statement yet, but sources close to him confirm private talks about his next move. If he runs for governor, the Makadara race could open up significantly. Other names have floated around, but none carry the same recognition or party backing Passaris enjoys at this stage.
The announcement comes as Nairobi leaders start positioning themselves early for 2027. With the city facing rapid growth, traffic jams, housing shortages and rising living costs, voters want MPs who can deliver tangible results. Passaris bets her track record and ODM connection will convince enough people she is the right choice.
She ended the radio chat on a personal note, saying she loves Nairobi and wants to keep serving but in a way that lets her make a deeper impact. Whether that resonates at the ballot box will become clearer as campaigns pick up speed.
For now the Esther Passaris Makadara MP bid has kicked off conversations across estates and online groups. Nairobi residents watch closely to see how the pieces move in the coming months. One thing looks certain: the race for Makadara will not be quiet.
