Nominated Senators Karen Nyamu and Gloria Orwoba were on Tuesday afternoon thrown out of Senate chambers due to their dress code which was deemed inappropriate.
The Youthful Senator Nyamu donned a kitenge skirt and a black sleeveless blouse that left her arms exposed. That, according to the House rules, is considered inappropriate dressing. Senate Speaker Amason Kingi read out the Speaker’s Rule number 5 which states: “Senators are required not to enter the chamber, lounge or dining room without being properly dressed.”
He further went on, “This means a male Senator will be dressed in a coat, collar, tie, long trousers, socks and shoes or service uniform, religious attire or such other decent dressing as may be approved by the speaker from time to time… An equivalent standard shall apply in respect of women senators who may also wear kitenges or such other African attire.”
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Kingi, after reading the house rules dictating the dress code, asked Nyamu to leave and only come back when appropriately dressed. “Senator Nyamu I’m afraid you don’t fit the bill and I’m going to ask you to leave the chambers, get properly dressed and come back to the chambers.”
Miss Nyamu is not the only one who suffered the consequences of inappropriate dressing. Her colleague and fellow nominated Senator, Gloria Orwoba suffered the wrath of the senate for inappropriate dressing. She turned up in what appeared to be a “stained” attire, considered not only “inappropriate” but also indecent.
Orwoba, was wearing a white blazer, green top, and matching white trousers that was however seemingly spotting a pink stain. Fellow Nominated Senator Tabitha Mutinda, while seeking directions from Speaker Amason Kingi on the dress code raised her matter on the floor. “I stand seeking guidance on the Speaker’s rule number 5 in regard to the dress code, and I need to seek advice if Senator Gloria is appropriately dressed for the House,” she said
She went on to say that as a fellow woman, she was very disturbed and described Orwoba’s dress code as indecent and inappropriate. Her male counterparts, Ledama Ole Kina and Enoch Wambua echoed her sentiments. They advised her to “at least cover up” instead of disgracing the house as she did.
In her defense Orwoba accused her colleagues of exposing her to period stigma, an issue affecting many young girls in the country.
“This is the period stigma that is making our girls kill themselves, we have a girl who killed herself because of the same issue that I’m going through, and now I understand because it is the women who are trying to make this a crime. Because maybe it’s Valentine’s Day? Because maybe on Valentine’s Day we’re not supposed to have our periods? I’m shocked that someone can stand here and say that the House has been disgraced, because a woman has had her period?” she said.
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She was also ejected from the chambers, with Kingi asking her to dress appropriately and come back. This was all witnessed on the first day the Senate resumed its Second Session of 4th Senate on Tuesday, February 14 after the long recess.
