Three Kenyan members of parliament have entered the chamber in African
clothes, in violation of rules dating back to the colonial era.
The three received a severe dressing down from Speaker Francis ole Kaparo and
were thrown out of parliament last Friday.
But on Tuesday they were back - without the suits and ties demanded by the
rules.
This time they were allowed to stay, and a committee will debate the
controversial regulations later in the week.
Roads and Public Works Minister Raila Odinga was cheered when he entered
parliament in a dating
tip for woman Agbada, a flowing Nigerian robe.
“I was happy to see Raila seated in parliament dressed like a Nigerian
minister,” said MP Koigi wa Wamwere.
Impatient
Mr Wamwere who is often seen sporting long flowing gowns has this year twice
been asked to leave the House.
“Parliament should support African regalia,” he added.
Mr Wamwere fears that Kenya is not culturally independent
Mr Kaparo said that so far as he was concerned, Mr Odinga was wearing
Nigerian attire.
He became impatient when Gor Sunguh, another unsuited dissident, bowed a
number of times to cheering MPs, showing off his khaki casual trousers and a
button-down shirt.
“This argument that the only dress that can be decent is European dress is to
me awfully colonial. And I am not sure that even Europeans would today dare
advance such an argument,” Mr Wamwere said.
“So you will be surprised that the champions of our new colonial culture, new
colonial ideology new colonial argument today are not Europeans anymore. It is
the Africans,” he said.
Male emancipation
He criticised the speaker for applying the double standards when it comes to
the female MPs.
Mr Gor Sunguh’s shirt did not impress Kenya’s Speaker
“I see ladies allowed to wear quite freely. They come in trousers, nobody
complains - they come in African dresses - they have full freedom to do so.
Mr Wamwere demanded for the male MPs to enjoy the same freedom which the
ladies have.
However, Mr Kaparo, said that Mr Wamwere’s outfit was not really African.
OJ Hakim, a designer with African Inspirations in Nairobi told the BBC
Network Africa programme that African attire could be very expansive and could
come in different shapes and forms.
“I think that the African culture is very diverse and there are so many
things within the culture that inspire African design.
African pride
The BBC’s Nyambura Wambugu in Nairobi says that it is not only the men who
are complaining and that women are questioning the dress rule which has never
been changed since the colonial era to adjust with modern times.
Cecily Mbarire, a nominated member of the parliament says MPs should be given
an opportunity to debate the dress code.
Designers want the parliament to be proud of African culture
“What is acceptable to whom, that is the question.
“I think the dress code in this parliament needs to be discussed and we need
to give our view because Koigi wa Wamwere has been consistent with the African
attire I do not know see the reason why he can’t be allowed to be in the
parliament,” Ms Mbarire said.
Mr Wamwere told the BBC that although the country has become politically
free, he is worried that culturally Kenya is far from being independent and it
is still tied to the European culture.
Our reporter says that the move by members of parliament has prompted the
speaker to refer the matter to the house committee that will discuss the issue
in depth and whose recommendations the house will adopt.
A group of Kenyan designers has backed the rebelling MPs and called for the
government to “embrace, encourage and support ways of dressing among its senior
members that honour Africa’s unique culture and proud history”.
Three Kenyan members of parliament have entered the chamber in African
clothes, in violation of rules dating back to the colonial era.
