- Senators currently staging their sittings in Turkana County have been exempted from mandatory wearing of suits complete with a tie when accessing the debating chamber.
- Speaker Amason Kingi relaxed the dress code rules owing to the high temperatures in the Northern County.
Image: The Senate
Senators currently staging their sittings in Turkana county have been exempted from mandatory wearing of suits complete with a tie when accessing the debating chamber.
Speaker Amason Kingi relaxed the dress code rules owing to the high temperatures in the Northern county.
“It shall not be mandatory that a senator dresses in formal suits. For those who are comfortable in donning the official suits kindly proceed to do so,” Kingi said.
Speaking at the Turkana County assembly chamber where the members are currently sitting, Kingi said the members are free to access the chamber on any attire provided they are decently dressed.
“Decency in the following meaning; the senator is in an official shirt. It will not be mandatory to accompany that shirt with a tie,” he said.
Kingi added provided that the members are in official shirts—long sleeved—they will be deemed decently dressed.
The speaker said he’s cognisant of the high temperatures in Turkana that would have made members uncomfortable when dressed in official suit while transacting business in the House.
“I’m alive to the fact that the environment in Turkana and more particularly in this chamber may not be the same as the one you are used to in Nairobi,” he said.
He added, “Since the environment is different; the dress code is being called upon to be relooked so that we feel comfortable as we transact business.”
“One of the fundamental rights of a worker or employee is a comfortable working place so that you can be able to get the best from that particular employee.”
Ordinarily, members are required to wear a suit, long sleeved shirts, tie, socks and closed shoes.
The senators are also allowed to access the chamber in African or traditional attire and Kaunda suit.
The lawmakers are holding their sittings outside Nairobi for the third time since the beginning of the third Senate in 2013.
The sittings are being held at the Turkana County Assembly chambers.
The first and second sittings outside the capital, Nairobi, were held in Uasin Gishu and Kitui in 2018 and 2019 respectively.
The Senate Standing Orders allows the speaker to define what constitutes decent dress code for members accessing the debating chamber.
Kingi said the relaxed rules only apply for the period the lawmakers will be holding their sittings at the Turkana County assembly.
The speaker made a case for the sitting outside Nairobi, the country’s seat of power.
“The sitting is ingenious way of enhancing the interaction between the national and county levels of government, and an innovative way through which the Senate may exercise its roles as provided for under Articles 94 and 95 of the Constitution,” he said.
Kingi held that the sittings will promote the role and work of the Senate and enhance public awareness regarding the Business of the Senate.
It will also highlight existing and new opportunities for engagement in the legislative process and develop and strengthen partnerships at the county level of government.
“It will provide an opportunity to members and staff of county assemblies to learn and share best practices with Senators and parliamentary officers,” he said.