In the wake of President William Ruto’s nomination of Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki as Kenya’s next deputy president, the Speaker ordered the long-sleeved lawmaker to leave the chambers.
“Hon Shinali, you are not properly dressed, go and dress properly and come back”, the Speaker told the Member of Parliament.
In an attempt to defend the dress code, the MP pointed out that one of his colleagues was also poorly dressed. His appeal was quickly dismissed. Nevertheless, the Speaker defended the other lawmaker, saying he was appropriately dressed since he was wearing a Kanzu, which Parliament recognizes as religious attire for Muslim legislators on Fridays.
Wetangula said, “Ehemu is a Muslim and is wearing a Friday prayer outfit, so there is no problem”. Wetangula revised the rules guiding acceptable dress code in November 2023, ending some outfits MPs liked to wear.
Wetangula banned Kaunda suits for men and tight and revealing clothes for female lawmakers in his ruling. Parliamentary attire for male MPs includes a coat, collar, tie, long-sleeved shirt, long trousers, socks, and shoes. Service uniforms and religious attire are also acceptable.
Women are required to wear business, formal, or smart casual clothing. Skirts and dresses should not exceed knee length and should have decent sleeves. Sleeveless blouses are prohibited.
Parliamentary code requires the Speaker to enforce dress code rules strictly. After the Senate voted to remove Rigathi Gachagua as Deputy President on Thursday, MPs met in Parliament on Friday for a special sitting.
During the meeting, Wetangula announced that Interior CS Kithure Kindiki had been nominated as Kenya’s next deputy president by President Ruto. “I have a message from the President regarding Prof. Kithure Kindiki EGH’s nomination to fill the vacancy in the Office of the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya,” Wetangula said.
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