Lamu County Assembly to debate miniskirt ban

Miniskirt. The Lamu County Assembly will debate a motion seeking to bar women from wearing miniskirts. The motion has elicited mixed reactions from leaders and residents alike. FILE PHOTO

What you need to know:

  • Move to introduce law on dress code comes a week after another was rejected in Kilifi County.
  • County Assembly member wants even tourists to dress well.
  • The wearing of short skirts, Mrs Kale says, amounts to disrespect considering that Lamu is a town that upholds culture and heritage.

A motion seeking to bar women from wearing miniskirts has been tabled for debate in the Lamu County Assembly.

According to the motion by nominated member Amina Kale, there was a need for the county government to put in place a strict law against the wearing of any short clothes or skirts by women.

She says there has been an increase in the number of women — especially visitors — who frequent public places wearing “extremely detestable” short skirts.

The wearing of short skirts, Mrs Kale says, amounts to disrespect considering that Lamu is a town that upholds culture and heritage.

“It’s not respectful for a woman to expose so much of her body to the public,” Ms Kale insists.

“I want to urge the county government to pass laws prohibiting women from wearing short clothes. My fellow MCAs should support this motion so that we can tame this disrespectful habit.”

The motion has elicited mixed reactions from leaders and residents alike.

According to county Trade, Tourism and Culture executive Samia Omar, there is a need for further consultations before any step on the motion is taken.

If the motion becomes law, she said, there was a possibility that it would adversely affect tourism in the county.

“Such a law does not just touch on locals alone. A huge part of those who might be greatly affected by such a law are the tourists,” she says.

A similar motion was thrown out by the Speaker of the Kilifi County Assembly last week.

While rejecting the motion, Assembly Speaker Jimmy Kahindi said the notice of the motion was unconstitutional and went against the rights of Kenyans.

“According to article 44 of the Constitution of Kenya, every person has the right to participate in cultural activities,” he said.

He defined culture as all activities practised in the society like the music that people listen to, mode of dressing and the type of food they eat.

“Not all that is immoral is illegal and not all that is moral is legal,” he said as he threw out the motion.