Kenya MPs fight 'colonial' dress code

[aziza]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3070131.stm
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Kenya MPs fight 'colonial' dress code



(Raila Odinga was cheered for his Nigerian-style attire)


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 brightly-coloured 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 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.

"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.


"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".

[Olùkọ́ Ọbádélé]

It's a shame. And to think, there are Afrikans in the diaspora who I nearly have to beg and/or hide their jeans to get them to wear Afrikan clothes...maybe if I told them they were forbidden to do so, then they would want to...Meda ase for the info...

Obadele Kwame

[aziza]

I'm telling you... I would love to wear Afrikan clothing everyday, all day, if I could! One day here soon, it will be all I wear. If any Afrikan has the means or the opportunity to do so, I just can't understand why they wouldn't grab at the opportunity.