Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has suspended the pre-publication process of the contentious Public Order (Amendment) Bill 2025, citing the need for national dialogue and wider public engagement.
In a statement shared on her social media platforms on Monday, Passaris said the pause is an opportunity to co-create a more inclusive law.
“This is an invitation to co-create legislation that safeguards constitutional freedoms while ensuring public order,” she wrote.
The move comes amid growing national tension ahead of the Saba Saba protests, and follows a public appeal by the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) for the Bill to be withdrawn.
The proposed legislation sought to restrict public gatherings near key institutions, including Parliament, and introduce designated protest zones to mitigate damage to property. However, the Bill has drawn significant criticism from various lawmakers, civil society actors, and Kenyans on social media, who see it as a threat to constitutional rights—particularly the freedoms of assembly and expression.
Despite this, some legislators had backed the proposal, citing a growing concern over violent and destructive protests.
Passaris defended the intent behind the Bill but acknowledged the public’s apprehension. She stressed the importance of civic responsibility and urged faith-based institutions to help foster a culture of peaceful protest.
“Let us teach and encourage a culture of peaceful protest, lawful engagement, and respectful disagreement—values rooted in faith and democracy alike,” she added.
“A just society is not built by force or fear, but by accountability on all sides—from citizens to state officers. It is my hope that this conversation will shift from confrontation to collaboration.”
The development comes on the eve of Saba Saba Day—marked annually on 7 July to commemorate the 1990 pro-democracy protests that led to the repeal of Section 2A and the end of one-party rule in Kenya under the late President Daniel Arap Moi.
As of Monday morning, Nairobi remained on high alert. Police officers had barricaded key roads into the capital, forcing motorists to reroute and compelling many pedestrians to walk long distances into the Central Business District (CBD).
