Why Speaker Kingi Ejected Karen Nyamu Out of Senate Chambers

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi on Tuesday, February 14 ejected Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu out of the chambers.

Nyamu who was wearing a kitenge skirt and a black sleeveless blouse was forced to leave the Senate chambers after Speaker Kingi deemed her dress code inappropriate.

Kingi read out the House rules to Senator Nyamu before asking her to go out of the Senate chambers.

“Senators are required not to enter the chamber, lounge or dining room without being properly dressed. This means a male Senator will be dressed in a coat, collar, tie, long trousers, socks and shoes or service uniform, religious attire or such other decent dressing as may be approved by the speaker from time to time. An equivalent standard shall apply in respect of women senators who may also wear kitenges or such other African attire,” Kingi stated.

He added,” Senator Nyamu I'm afraid you don't fit the bill and I’m going to ask you to leave the chambers, go get properly dressed and come back to the chambers.” 

Kingi also ejected Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba over wearing a blood-stained white suit as a demonstration of the ordeal girls and women go through when experiencing their menstrual cycle.  

The Senate and the National Assembly resumed their normal sessions on Tuesday, February 14 after a two-month-long recess. 

The two houses went to recess in November last year.