This archive report was first published on 5 October 2021.
On October 5, 2021, a heated debate erupted in the National Assembly when Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo attended a parliamentary session wearing a headgear associated with the late Orie Rogo Manduli.
During the proceedings, Soy MP Caleb Kositany rose on a point of order to question whether Odhiambo was indeed the MP attending the session, citing that he could not identify her.
However, Odhiambo confirmed that she was the MP, stating that she had just attended the requiem service of Kenya's first female rally driver, Manduli.
She also took the opportunity to celebrate Manduli's elegance, saying, "We have given her a send-off that befits her. It was colourful, it was loud. It was everything good you can imagine Mr speaker."
Despite the commotion, National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi defended Odhiambo, stating that she did not contravene any standing orders of the house.
Interestingly, this was not the first time a female MP's dress code had caused a stir in parliament. On September 12, 2018, a section of male senators wore white headscarves in support of the two-thirds gender bill.
