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"id": 1349904,
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"content": "Hon. Members, before we go to the next order, I have a Communication to make. It is in relation to dress code, admittance of visitors to Parliament and security measures. You may recall that during the afternoon Sitting of the House on Tuesday, 26th September 2023, the Minority Party Whip and Member for Suna East, Hon. Junet Mohamed, Member of Parliament, rose on a point of order and sought the guidance of the Chair on whether the Member for Kimilili, Hon. Didmus Barasa, Member of Parliament, was appropriately dressed. For greater clarity, at the time, the Hon. Didmus donned a collarless coat popularly known as Kaunda suit. You may also recall that, in my preliminary response, I decried the emerging tendency by certain Members of the House to breach the rules on the dress code. I indicated that the breaches were occurring in plenary, in committees, and in controlled Members’ facilities within Parliament, particularly the lounges and restaurant. There are several Hon. Members, both ladies and gentlemen, who have on various occasions, approached the Chair to point out how indecently or inappropriately some of their colleagues are dressed. As your Speaker, I have resisted the temptation to name and shame any Member because I feel and know the devastating effect it can have on Hon. Members, especially first-term Members. Consequently, I undertook to guide the House on this matter. In this regard, Hon. Members, in my Communication, I will guide on the rules on dress code, admittance of visitors to Parliament and security measures within the precincts of Parliament, since they are all related. Let me commence with the matter of dress code. As you may be aware, Hon. Members, this is not the first time the Speaker has been invited to determine the appropriateness or otherwise of Members’ dress code. I have gone through the Speaker’s Rulings from 1963 to 2022 and established several instances where presiding officers were called upon to rule on the dress code. The decisions made by my predecessors are clear on what would pass as appropriate dress code for Members while attending parliamentary business. Now that there is no lacuna, I will refrain from delving into the substance of the point of order raised by the Minority Party Whip and the other issues attendant thereto. Instead, I will focus on what the rules and the precedents of the House expect of Hon. Members on matters of dress code. Hon. Members, prescription of a parliamentary dress code is important as it not only establishes the sartorial standards of the House but also preserves its honour and dignity as an august House. It is for this reason that parliamentary dress code has been jealously guarded and defended over the years not only in our House but in Houses all over. To this end, Parliaments, the world over, have anchored descriptive provisions on the dress code of Members of Parliament, staff and other persons admitted to the precincts of Parliament. In the case of this House, appropriate dress code is described in Rule No.9 of the Speaker’s Rules. The rule provides as follows, and I quote: “Members of Parliament, members of the press and guests should not enter the Chamber, Lounge, Dining Room or Committee Rooms without being properly dressed. A proper dress for men means a coat, collar, tie, long-sleeved shirt, long trousers, socks and shoes or service uniform. For the ladies, business, formal or smart casual wear applies. Skirts and dresses should be below knee-length and decent. Sleeveless blouses are prohibited.”"
}