Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo's collarless shirt caused a sharp debate in parliament on Wednesday with a section of MPs accusing him of violating Standing Orders.
Kisumu Town West MP Olago Aluoch, on a point of order, demanded to know why Dr Amollo was allowed to 'set a new tradition' by wearing collarless shirts.
"My learned friend Otiendo Amollo, in the recent past seems to have started setting a custom. He comes to the Chambers in a collarless shirt, smartly dressed without a tie. Mr. Speaker I seek for your direction, is this proper dressing or not?" he posed.
But according to the former Ombudsman, his dress code is decent and smart in line with the Standing Orders of parliament, adding that he had not violated any law.
"They Should have said “Collared” Shirts.., the issue was Mandarin (read Chinese), vs Conventional (read French/English) Collars. The Standing Orders make no such distinction, hence why we Speak of “a man of the collar” when Pastors have no double collars," he tweeted.
But on the floor of the house, Suba South MP John Mbadi refuted Amollo's argument, insisting that the dressing code inappropriate for a distinguished MP.
"I don't agree with Amollo that we can have a collar as a substitute for a tie because most of our shirts can cover our necks. In fact, if I was to remove my tie and button up to the last button, I still can comfortably cover my neck the same way Otiende has covered his," said Mbadi.
According to parliamentary traditions, make legislators must be in a suit probably with a short and a necktie, the reason MPs are 'mad' at Amollo.
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