Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has called for the reinstatement of capital punishment in Kenya, arguing it is necessary to deter serious crimes and reduce the burden on taxpayers.

Speaking on September 20, 2025, at an empowerment forum in Kajiado, attended by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and other leaders, she invoked hanging as a swift response to murderers and linked her plea to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and historical injustices.

“Tulitoa hiyo sentencing by hanging, lakini kama mtu umeua na inajulikana kabisa hata yeye aende akue hanged because we end up locking them up in cells and feeding them with taxpayer money, let us return capital punishment; if we amend the constitution, it should be one of the amendments we are bringing,” Passaris said.

She added that prolonged incarceration drains public resources without offering closure for victims’ families.

Rising Voices

Kenya has not carried out an execution for over 30 years. Thousands, however, remain on death row and continue to be sentenced to death due to the automatic nature of the death penalty.

In December 2017, the Supreme Court of Kenya declared the mandatory #deathpenalty unconstitutional. What does this mean, and how will it affect prisoners currently on death row and the future of sentencing in #Kenya? Working with the Kenyan Taskforce on the Review of the Mandatory Death Sentence, we have developed a short video to address these questions.

Passaris’ remarks follow Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina’s viral post on September 19, 2025, where she branded corruption a “capital offence punishable by death.” Maina wrote, “Leadership is a privilege to better the lives of others. It is not an opportunity to satisfy personal greed,” adding that corruption and theft of public resources should be punished without mercy.

Her comments drew thousands of reactions amid public anger over recent scandals, including the Ksh800 million printing expenditure flagged by the Controller of Budget.

SGBV, justice reforms

Passaris also addressed SGBV, urging men to stand against the abuse of children, the elderly, and the mentally challenged. “On matters of SGBV, the issue has gotten out of hand, and we need action… we are saying no to SGBV,” she said.

She reflected on the 2007–2008 post-election violence and called on the president to compensate survivors of rape and other violations from that period, saying reconciliation and reparations would help victims live in peace.

Her remarks come as the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions strengthens training for prosecutors handling defilement cases, aiming to protect children and rebuild confidence in the justice system. The growing calls by legislators highlight a renewed debate over Kenya’s sentencing policies as authorities confront rising public demands for tougher justice.