Michael Mundia Kamau

P.O. Box 58972 00200

City Square Nairobi Kenya

20th November 2003

First Lady and matters of dress

I refer to John N. Ochola’s letter titled “First Lady and matters of dress”, appearing in the “East African Standard” of 19th November 2003 (see http://www.eastandard.net/archives/November/wed19112003/commentaries/letters/letters001.htm), in which Mr. Ochola takes exception with the manner that First lady, Lucy Kibaki, was dressed at the Miss Disability Beauty Pageant held on 15th November 2003. Mr. Ochola raises valid points in his letter, that are representative of a wider and much bigger societal problem. This in itself absolves Mrs. Kibaki from blame per se, but is reason enough to spur reflection on this anti-social behaviour.

Indigenous dress codes in this country have been steadily declining over the past forty years. The tendency and bias however, is to focus and point out ills in female dress codes, ignoring the shortfalls in male dress codes. Men are hardly ever taken to task on their manner of dressing, which is seldom reflective of this country’s heritage. Whereas several women today can be said to dress in immodest and revealing clothing, most men don trendy outfits associated with the fashion capitals of this world. There is not much of a value system to speak of this country, and in such circumstances it becomes difficult to chastise or castigate any group over another.

 In the absence of a soundly entrenched value system, the mini-skirts will just get shorter and the jeans tighter and more revealing. The more inherent hypocrisy and double standards cannot also escape attention. Women in Kenya choose to dress in the way they do for a number of reasons. On the one hand, a significant number of women in Kenya have acquired status over the past mainly 40 years. This trend continues on a rising scale. The statement of this newly acquired status is being made in what can be described as a rude and abrasive manner, as a result of historical subservience. It is a statement of conquest, intent and defiance.

On the other hand, women have chosen to ensnare the prey through seduction and here is where men folk must swallow their hypocritical protestations. Men in Kenya overtly like the daily stage shows of pornography and are indeed allured and ensnared by the predators. Nairobi’s Koinange street is a famous nocturnal pick up point for commercial sex workers and many a man revels in the opportunity to use Koinange street for a glimpse at semi-nudity. There would be no Koinange street if there were no takers, the same way women would not dress the way they do if it was not bearing results. Brothels in Nairobi with long histories, and where several generations of teenagers have been initiated, also continue to record booming business.

There is however a big difference between status and respectability. Whereas this country has witnessed the acquisition of status by several indigenous men and women, this has not come with respectability, and this is part cause of our frustrations. Respectability takes much more time to cultivate and evolve. The warm reception that former president Moi received at this year’s Kenyatta day celebrations for instance, can be described as respectability.

It is respectability that has taken a lifetime to cultivate and in particular, a leadership career spanning half a century. It is doubtful whether there is another Kenyan alive capable of receiving the kind of acknowledgement that former president Moi received at this year’s Kenyatta day celebrations. Respectability is also found in the solid legacies of Joan of Arc, Florence Nightingale, Mother Theresa, Lady Baden Powell, Kenya’s Me Kitilili, Kenya’s Moraa Okiage and Kenya’s Mary Nyanjiru. Kenyan women need to transform their status into respectability by building on the foundations laid by distinguished pioneers of women’s empowerment.

The dress codes of both men and women in Kenya today are a reflection of a society that does not want to take deliberate steps at evolving sound cultures and self-pride. We are playing by the devil’s rules and shall surely perish by them, unless we change.

 Michael Mundia Kamau