Passaris: Housing project could be one of my legacy projects

Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris believes the government's affordable housing initiative could be one of her lasting legacies. Her perspective on this project stems from her time working in Nairobi's informal settlements, where she noticed firsthand the dire housing conditions and their impact on the well-being of families, especially children and women.

Passaris emphasized that decent housing is essential for the safety and dignity of families, particularly children and women. During an appearance on K24 TV's morning program Politalks on Monday, August 31, 2026, she expressed her hope that Kenyans would remember her support for the 2023 Finance Bill, despite its opposition. Passaris has visited informal settlements for years, witnessing the harsh living conditions, fear in children's eyes, overcrowding, and lack of privacy, all of which she linked to increased vulnerability of children to abuse and unsafe situations.

She sees the housing project as a way to improve security in these informal settlements, ensuring children do not grow up in environments lacking basic protection. Passaris is also pushing for the completion of a gender-based violence safe house, a project that has been ongoing from her first term into her second. This facility is almost operational, pending landscaping and furnishing.

She is working with partners to secure the necessary furniture before the shelter begins operations. Additionally, she wants to establish a network linking police stations, hospitals, and shelters to ensure survivors of gender-based violence receive support after reporting cases. The National Gender and Equality Commission has backed the safe house as a facility aimed at providing refuge and support to survivors.

Passaris advocates for shelters to become a higher government priority, alongside halfway homes and homes for the elderly. She suggested using lottery revenue to fund such facilities. Passaris highlighted that her role as a woman representative goes beyond funding community projects. As a Member of Parliament, she is involved in legislation and oversight, having supported legislation introduced by other MPs and participated in the oversight of government projects through her membership in the Public Investments Committee and the Housing Committee.

However, she noted that funding remains a significant challenge for woman representatives, with her office receiving only Ksh7 million per year per constituency, while constituency MPs have access to much larger allocations through the National Government Constituencies Development Fund. Despite these constraints, Passaris remains committed to improving housing, safety, gender-based violence response, family planning, and economic empowerment through her work.