Esther Passaris facts for kids

Esther Muthoni Passaris, born on October 20, 1964, is a well-known Kenyan politician and businesswoman. She is also a philanthropist, which means she helps others by giving money and time to good causes. Currently, she serves as the Woman Representative for Nairobi County in Kenya's Parliament. She is a member of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) political party.

In 2013, Esther Passaris first ran to become the Woman Representative for Nairobi County. She was a candidate for the Kenya National Congress party but did not win that election. Later, she became a very public figure in both business and politics in Kenya.

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 Kenyan from the Kikuyu community.

She went to the Aga Khan Academies for both her primary and secondary school education. Later, she studied at Strathmore Business School, where she completed an Advanced Management Program in 2006. 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 October 2017, Esther Passaris graduated from the United States International University Africa in Nairobi. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in International Business Administration.

Public and Political Work

Esther Passaris is a prominent figure in Kenya. She is known for speaking out on important issues and has been a strong voice for women's rights in Kenya. She even competed in the Miss Kenya contest earlier in her life.

Through her organization, Adopt a Light, Esther Passaris worked with Nairobi city officials. This project aimed to fix broken streetlights and, in return, allowed her organization to place advertisements on the lamp posts. This helped to make the city safer and brighter.

Esther Passaris ran for the position of Woman Representative for Nairobi County in the 2013 Kenyan general election. She also sought to become the Mayor of Nairobi. She is currently serving as the Nairobi Women's Representative, a role she has held since 2017.

She often speaks about community issues and human rights. She spends time with communities, leading mentorship programs and giving speeches at social events like Fatuma's Voice. She was also the founder and CEO of the "One in a Million" campaign. This campaign was part of Driving Kenya Forward, a non-profit group that worked to solve development problems in Kenya. These problems included poverty and unemployment, and the campaign also promoted development in both cities and rural areas.

Esther Passaris was re-elected as the Nairobi Woman Representative in the 2022 Kenyan general election. She dedicated her victory to her father, who had passed away.

Personal Life

Esther Passaris has two children, 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 recognized as one of the most influential women in business and government by CEO Global in South Africa.
• 2009: She received the UN Habitat Business Award from UN Habitat.
• 2008: She was awarded the Order of Grand Warrior (OGW) by the former President of Kenya, Mwai Kibaki.