National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula has banned Members of Parliament (MPs) from wearing kaunda suits in the precincts of parliament.
In a ruling on Tuesday, November 28, Wetangula reversed past rulings by former speakers which saw the suit, also known as Mao Zedong suits, admitted as proper dressing in the house.
Wetangula in the ruling read to members of parliament argued that the Kaunda suit, among other emerging fashion trends, posed threats to the traditional parliamentary dress code and as such he saw the need to defend it.
The speaker had singled out Rarienda Member of Parliament Otiende Amollo and his Kimilili counterpart Didmus Barasa, both of whom had made the suits their trademark dress codes in the house.
“This practice outrightly does not accord with the seriousness of the house and its committees,” the ruling read in part.
Consequently, all members of parliament will henceforth be prohibited from donning the said suits regardless of whether they are long sleeved or short sleeves.
In addition, the Speaker announced a ban on tight and revealing clothes for female members of parliament.
According to the ruling, some ladies in the house had raised concerns requesting the speaker to protect the dignity of the house.
In response to the concerns, Wetangula moved to ban the said clothes whilst insisting that the move was not meant to prefect the MPs.
The National Assembly speaker also pronounced himself on the Maasai traditional attire worn by ladies.
According to Wetangula, the Maasai shuka is not part of the dress code as envisaged in the Assembly’s standing rules despite previous instances where speakers admitted such clothes.
Wetangula Rules on Guests
Also addressed in the Tuesday ruling was the issue of increased admission of guests in Parliament’s amenities.
According to the Speaker, MPs will only be allowed to bring a maximum of one guest at a time.
The MPs, according to ruling, will have to seek prior statement from the Clerk in cases where a member intends to bring in more than one guest.
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Further, Wetangula affirmed that guests will be required to adhere to the parliamentary dress code.
The rules will also affect activities in the restaurant in parliament, with the Speaker demanding that all unauthorized persons be barred from accessing restaurants designated for members only.
In addition, the Speaker reminded all MPs that firearm holders would be required to deposit their arms with the Sergeant-at-arms when entering the house.
The new rules, according to the Speaker are meant to ensure convenience for the members while conducting their business.
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“I give these directions conscious of the fact that they might bring discomfort for the members,’ he stated.
“However, as I said sometimes early this year, the discomfort is necessary for the convenience and security of members for good order,” he added.