Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu has announced that she plans to launch her campaign for the Nairobi County Woman Representative seat in November as political preparations for the 2027 General Election continue to gather momentum.
Nyamu made the announcement during an interview with local media stations on Friday, October 23, 2026. She explained that she had deliberately delayed the start of her campaign because she wanted to avoid exhausting herself too early.
The senator confirmed that she was interested in the seat currently held by Esther Passaris, who has also been discussing her political plans ahead of the next election.
“I’m planning to start that in November. I’ve been holding. You know, in politics, timing is everything. You can get burnout very early before you start,” Nyamu said.
She added that she wanted to begin her campaign activities gradually.
“So I wanted to begin slowly from November, which is next month,” she stated.
Nyamu Ready to Face Passaris
Nyamu’s planned campaign puts her in a potential contest with Passaris, who has indicated that she may seek another term as Nairobi Woman Representative.
During the interview, Nyamu was asked whether she was prepared to face the incumbent in the race.
“Yes, yes, yes,” she responded.
Her remarks signal her intention to enter the contest as aspirants begin organising their campaigns and engaging potential supporters across Nairobi.
The woman representative position is an important elective seat because its holder represents women in the county in the National Assembly and participates in parliamentary discussions on legislation, budgets and public policy.
Nyamu’s November launch is expected to mark the beginning of more visible campaign activities, although the final list of candidates will depend on the electoral and party nomination processes.
Passaris Considers a Possible Gubernatorial Bid
Nyamu’s announcement comes amid uncertainty surrounding Passaris’s own political plans.
On October 13, 2026, Passaris warned Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja that she could enter the 2027 gubernatorial race if she became concerned that the political formation supporting the current administration risked losing Nairobi to the opposition.
“I want to put Sakaja on notice. Governor Sakaja, notice. If you do not style up and shape up and we see that we’re going to lose that seat, then Mimi Nitaingia, the race ya governor wa Nairobi,” Passaris said.
She also called for better service delivery, arguing that Nairobi residents needed practical results rather than promises.
“I am actually saying that Nairobi needs to work, not just in words but in action,” she added.
If Passaris decides to pursue the governorship instead of defending her current seat, the Nairobi Woman Representative contest could attract additional aspirants.
However, her final decision had not been established in the information available for this report.
Women’s Representation in Nairobi Politics
Passaris has also raised concerns about the representation of women in Nairobi’s elective leadership positions.
She noted that the number of elected women Members of the County Assembly declined from five in 2017 to four in 2022.
She further highlighted the limited number of women elected to represent Nairobi constituencies in Parliament during the same election cycles.
