Residents split on miniskirt ban plan

Opinion was on Thursday divided on a proposal to ban miniskirts in Lamu Town, with some residents saying they feared it might keep tourists away.

A motion tabled in the Lamu County Assembly earlier this week triggered the debate.

Human rights activist Julius Kimotho said the Bill was unconstitutional and if passed, could hurt tourism.

Mr Kimotho said the assembly should be discussing more important matters.

“Lamu is a tourist town and we need the money. Banning miniskirts will discourage tourists from visiting the island. I think MCAs can find more serious issues to discuss than this,” he said.

Mr George Kariuki, a lawyer and Lamu resident, said the Bill should be looked at with an open mind.

He said MCAs should bear in mind such factors as how long a miniskirt should be before rushing to ban it.

Mr Kariuki, however, said the Constitution stipulates that people should respect the rights of others.

“It is not in order for a woman to deliberately wear clothes that provoke the feelings of the opposite sex. Wearing of too short miniskirts and making a man lose self-control is a contravention of the Bill of Rights,” he said.

The chairman of Wings of Change, a community-based youth organisation, Mr Jimmy Kimani Muiruri, said the County Assembly should involve citizens in every decision it makes.

“They cannot make us live like our forefathers. Things have changed,” he said.

Most of those supporting the motion were Muslim religious leaders.

“I support the motion. Women should cover their bodies properly,” said Jamia Mosque Imam Noordin Abdullahi.