Esther Passaris facts for kids

Esther Muthoni Passaris OGW (born 20 October 1964) is a Kenyan politician, social entrepreneur, and philanthropist. She is a representative for Nairobi City County in the Kenyan parliament. She is also a member of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Political Party.

In 2013, she ran to be a women's representative for Nairobi County. She was a candidate for the Kenya National Congress political party. She is a well-known public figure in Kenyan business and politics.

Her Early Life and Education

Esther Passaris was born in Mombasa, a city on the coast of Kenya. Her father was from Greece, and her mother was a Kenyan from the Kikuyu community.

She went to the Aga Khan Academies for her primary and secondary school education. Later, she studied at Strathmore Business School. This program was a partnership between Strathmore University and the University of Navarra.

She also earned a diploma in law from the University of London. In 2017, Esther Passaris graduated from the United States International University Africa in Nairobi. She earned a degree in International Business Administration.

Making a Difference: Public and Political Work

Esther Passaris is a well-known person in Kenya. She is known for speaking her mind about other politicians and business people. She was also a runner-up in the Miss Kenya contest.

She actively works to support the rights of women in Kenya.

Helping Communities with Adopt a Light

Esther Passaris started an organization called Adopt a Light. This group made a deal with Nairobi city officials. The goal was to fix broken streetlights. In return, her organization could put advertisements on the lamp posts. This helps make the city safer and brighter.

Standing Up for Women's Rights

Esther Passaris ran for the women's representative role for Nairobi County in 2013. She was also a candidate for the Mayor of Nairobi. Today, she serves as the Nairobi Women's Representative.

She often speaks about community issues and human rights. She spends time with communities, leading mentorship programs. She also gives speeches at social events like Fatuma's Voice.

Working for Kenya's Future

Esther Passaris was the CEO and founder of the "One in a Million" campaign. This campaign was part of Driving Kenya Forward. It was a non-profit group that worked to solve big problems in Kenya. These problems included poverty and unemployment. The campaign also worked to improve cities and rural areas.

She was re-elected in the 2022 general election. She said her victory was for her late father.

Her Family Life

Esther Passaris has two children. Their names are Makenna Ngugi and Lefteris Ngugi. Her daughter, Makenna Ngugi, is a singer.

Awards and Recognition

Esther Passaris has received several awards for her work:

• 2016 She was named one of the most influential women in business and government by CEO Global, South Africa.
• 2009 She received the UN Habitat Business Award from UN Habitat.
• 2008 She was given the Order of Grand Warrior (OGW) by former President of Kenya, Mwai Kibaki.