“Even president Ruto must come to parliament in suit and not Kaunda suit.” – Wetang’ula
The prohibition of the Kaunda suit in parliament extends beyond just Members of Parliament to encompass all Kenyans, including President William Ruto, according to National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula.
Addressing the Editors Guild Convention in Mombasa on Friday, Wetang’ula emphasized the importance of adhering to the rules set by Parliament.
“Even the president must come to parliament in suit and not Kaunda suit. That is why we have strict rules because leaders must adhere to them,” he said.
Wetang’ula highlighted that these rules are designed to uphold the honor of the house and maintain decorum consistently.
As an illustration, he recounted an incident where he observed a Member of Parliament entering the chamber with a firearm.
“The MP entered the chamber with a gun so you can imagine what can take place when people get angry. So rules must be obeyed,” he said.
The National Assembly Speaker cited Rule 9 of the Speaker’s Rules, which details the dress code for Members of Parliament.
He explicitly stated that the suits commonly known as Mao Zedong coats were deemed inappropriate attire according to parliamentary norms.
Furthermore, he announced that legislators would no longer be allowed to access the chamber, lounge, dining room, or commute rooms without wearing the appropriate clothing.
“My predecessors have had no issue with Kaunda suit. Going forward, any attire outside what is prescribed in rule 9 of the Speaker’s Rules is prohibited. This includes Kaunda suits, whether long or short-sleeved,” he said.
Upon assuming the presidency, President William Ruto garnered attention by adopting the Kaunda suit as his regular dress code, a departure from his previous attire.
Before attaining the presidency, Ruto was seldom seen wearing the Kaunda suit. However, his choice influenced numerous Members of Parliament to also embrace this style of dressing.
Some MPs even attended parliamentary sessions wearing Kaunda suits. This prompted Speaker Wetang’ula to institute a ban on the attire.
It is worth noting that in countries like Tanzania, the Kaunda suit is recognized as one of the official dress codes for members of parliament.
