Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka has ruled that senators are allowed to wear traditional attire to the chamber.
The Speaker’s rules recognise a suit, collar shirts, tie, long trousers, socks and shoes as official dress for male members or service uniform, religious attire or such other decent dressing as may be approved by the Speaker from time to time.
An equivalent standard applies in respect of women senators who may also wear Kitenge or such other African attire. In his ruling that set precedent in Parliament, Lusaka invoked his powers as stipulated in the Speakers Rule No.5 and Article 11 of the Constitution.
“This Constitution recognises culture as the foundation of the nation and as the cumulative civilization of the Kenyan people and nation,” the speaker read.
Lusaka's ruling came after Narok Senator Ledama Olekina on Tuesday attended a plenary wearing Maasai regalia. The vocal lawmaker attended two House committee meetings dressed in the traditional wear.
The attire attracted the attention of senators, who sought Lusaka's direction on whether the lawmaker was properly dressed.
“Mr Speaker, Senator Ledama is wearing what looks like Maasai regalia. Is he in order because we can also come with all kinds of attire,” Wajir Senator Abdullahi Ibrahim said.
Lusaka said the Senate represents counties and each has its own culture and traditional attire that needs to be preserved.
“We all know that we represent counties and certain counties have their own cultural dresses.Given, for example, Narok and Kajiado their cultural dress has been recognised world over as a Kenyan culture,” Lusaka said.
“So, it would be very unfortunate for me and unconstitutional to order Senator Ledama to get out because of what he is wearing. Therefore, having read the two, as the Speaker, I rule that he is decently dressed and he should remain in this House,” he ruled.
The ruling allows the lawmakers to attend plenary and committee sittings in their traditional attire.
Until the Speaker’s ruling, Muslim members were the only ones allowed to enter the chamber in a different attire – Kanzus.
Last year, National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi ordered parliamentary orderlies to kick out MPs, journalists and Parliament officials who dressed inappropriately.
Kisumu West MP Olago Aluoch sought a clarification after Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo wore a collarless coat to the chamber on February 20.
“Members of the press and guests shall not enter the chamber, lodges, dining rooms, committee rooms when not properly dressed,” Muturi ruled.
Citing practice and precedents set by other parliaments that Kenya borrows traditions from, he said members must wear a coat, long sleeved shirt, socks and shoes or service uniform – for men.
For women, an equivalent formality should be observed, Muturi said. They should wear skirts whose slit is below the knee.
“I have relooked at the suit that Hon Amollo wore on that day and realised that the suit was collared but he did not have a tie, hence, was not properly dressed,” Muturi said.
He highlighted a past case involving former MP Gor Sungu, where he ruled against the member on the grounds the House was not pleased by his appearance.
Former lawmaker Koigi Wamwere was once ruled out of order when he sat in Parliament in African attire.
The speaker said the Kanzu, worn by Muslims, is permissible as long as a member wears a coat over it. He overruled members who argued that nominated MP David Sankok should be ruled out of order for his green suits.
“If a member still dons a coat, long-sleeved shirt and tie, there is no need to dwell on the nature and colour of the clothing," Muturi said.
Edited by Henry Makori
