In a statement Wednesday, Passaris, who last month toyed with the idea of joining the race for what promises to be a hotly contested seat in the upcoming 2027 elections, took aim at incumbent Governor Johnson Sakaja over his recent switch from UDA to ODM.
According to Passaris, it is President William Ruto who has been running Nairobi as a result of Sakaja’s poor leadership.
“Nairobi just got more interesting. Governor Sakaja’s entry into ODM does not guarantee him the Nairobi Governor’s seat in 2027. That decision belongs to Nairobians. For too long, H.E President William Ruto has been Nairobi’s de facto Governor, stepping in where county leadership should have delivered,” she wrote.
Passaris quipped that Nairobi needs a no-nonsense governor who gets things done. As such, she threw her weight behind CS Ruku, citing his track record in the Public Service docket.
“Nairobi needs a hands-on, decisive, no-nonsense administrator. Someone who shows up, takes charge and gets things done. I’ve watched CS Geoffrey Ruku handle Special Programmes and disaster response. His energy, decisiveness, and hands-on leadership are exactly the qualities Nairobi needs,” she added.
The woman rep expressed her love for Nairobi, recounting her earlier ambitions for Nairobi mayor.
“In 2007, I wanted to be Mayor of Nairobi. That dream never materialized, but my love for this city and its people has never diminished. Today, I simply want Nairobi to have the best Governor possible. CS Geoffrey Ruku, if elections were held today, you would have my vote! August 10, 2027 is still ahead of us. No candidate owns Nairobi. Every vote must be earned, every promise must count, and every leader must be accountable.”
She concluded, “A well-governed Nairobi would be a tremendous asset to President Ruto and to every Kenyan who calls this city home. Let the best candidate win. Nairobi deserves nothing less!”
Passaris’s endorsement of Ruku came shortly after the minister said he was ready to seek Nairobi’s governorship and improve service delivery in the capital.
CS Ruku said Nairobi needed a leader with integrity, vision, and strong leadership skills to address the city’s challenges and realize its potential.
“Nairobi is for all Kenyans, is the capital city of our country, and must be led as such. This is the hub of East Africa and the greater East and Central Business Hub,” Ruku said in South B, Nairobi.
He added that whoever takes the governor’s office should demonstrate honesty, hard work, vision, and integrity to steer the county towards development.
Ruku also cited his experience in elective politics and said he was capable of leading Nairobi.
“You people know very well that I was previously an elected leader. Is there any problem if I vie and get elected here in Nairobi? Am I not able to lead this county?” he asked.
Before joining President William Ruto’s Cabinet, Ruku served as Mbeere North MP. He was elected in 2022 on a Democratic Party of Kenya ticket.
Ruto nominated Ruku to the Cabinet in March 2025. Parliament approved his appointment, and he took over the Public Service docket from former Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi.
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