Sonko: I won’t apologise to Passaris, but I respect our women

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has said he will not apologise to Nairobi Woman Rep Esther Passaris over his ‘mimi si bwana yako’ remarks.

The Governor who was addressing Nairobi Budget Estimates public participation forum accused Passaris of inciting women against him, but insisted that his love and respect for women will not be affected.

“Passaris’ motive is to incite women against me, yet the comment was specifically directed to her. I will not apologise,” Sonko said.

Governor Sonko said the Woman Rep should be the first to tender her apology over her disrespectful remarks during Madaraka Day.

Sonko said that he respects Passaris as a leader, and that he was only reacting to Passaris’ remarks.

“Mine was a response to her comments. I don’t understand how they missed her remarks and picked on mine,” said Sonko.

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Differences between the two leaders played out publicly on Saturday after Passaris raised concerns over delayed approval of projects by the county government.

Passaris had claimed that her efforts to consult with the governor had hit a wall after he kept ignoring her calls.

Passaris went on to call for a “handshake” between the Governor and Starehe MP Charles Njagua to foster unity in the county.

However, when he stood to speak, Sonko dismissed her claims saying Njagua was his friend and that they consulted on a daily basis.  

He told the Woman Rep to stop bothering him with phone calls as he was not her husband.

“Mimi si bwana yako, ati niwe nashika simu yako wakati unataka, kwa hivyo hapo tuheshimiane,” said Sonko.

The remarks made in Kiswahili were criticised by women leaders and social media users who felt the governor went overboard.

The latest to fault Sonko’s remarks is the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) who have called for the governor’s arrest for disrespecting women.