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{
    "id": 884151,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/884151/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 53,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Speaker",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Honourable Members may recall that the Clerk did provide a copy of the Speaker’s Rules issued by myself to every Member in keeping with Section 37(4) of the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act, 2017. It is instructive to note that a prescription of an ‘appropriate dress code’ is not codified in our Standing Orders. In its wisdom, the House has, like in many comparable jurisdictions, left it to the discretion of the Speaker to make orders as may from time to time be necessary and as exigencies call for. It is also important to note that most legislatures in comparable jurisdictions have, for good reasons, refrained from codifying ‘appropriate dress code’ in their Standing Orders. This takes us to the second question, which is: What has been the practice and application of the said rule and how does it sit with practice and precedent in comparable jurisdictions? A review of instances of alleged improper dressing in the House reveals that Speakers have always exercised due discretion while enforcing the rule. But, as the Hon. Olago Aluoch did admit, the matter of dress code is evolving fast. Consequently, a practice has developed whereby in cases where the claimed dressing is at variance with what is prescribed in the Rules, the determination of what constitutes “an appropriate dress code” has been left to the discretion of the Speaker. In 1968, Speaker Humphrey Slade, was invited to determine whether or not the then Member for Embu North, Hon. Mbogoh, was properly dressed. Speaker Slade ruled thus– “As I have said on other occasions, we have no Standing Orders concerning dress, which I can enforce. It rests on the collective opinion of the House as to what is or is not proper dress. If Hon Mbogoh does not meet with the approval of Hon. Members, he will doubtless hear about that.” I am persuaded to agree with Speaker Slade that, where it is not clear whether a Member’s dress is proper or not, discretion has been left to the Speaker to make a determination on the matter, taking into account the collective opinion of the House as to what is or is not proper dress. Hon. Members, on 10th July 2003, Speaker Francis Kaparo was confronted with a similar situation. The then Member for Gatundu North, the Hon. Patrick Muiruri had risen on a point of order contesting that the then Member for Kisumu Town East, the Hon. Gor Sungu, was not properly dressed. My review of the HANSARD reveals no description of how Hon. Sungu was dressed then but when called upon by the Speaker to rise in his place, the HANSARD records"
}