Embakasi East MP Babu Owino found himself at the center of a dress code controversy in Parliament after appearing in the House wearing an advocate’s collar band — a wardrobe choice that didn’t sit well with the Speaker.
Highlights:
- Babu Owino showed up in Parliament wearing a lawyer’s collar band.
- Speaker Moses Wetang’ula instructed him to follow the House’s dress code.
- The MP had just been admitted to the bar days before the incident.
Main Story:
Just days after being admitted to the bar, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino made a bold fashion statement in Parliament that earned him a public rebuke. The legislator arrived in the National Assembly donning a lawyer’s collar band — a symbol of his new legal status — only to be reminded that court attire isn’t suitable for the chambers.
Speaker Moses Wetang’ula quickly pointed out the wardrobe misstep, instructing Owino to adhere to the parliamentary dress code. While acknowledging the MP’s achievement of joining the legal profession, the Speaker emphasized the need for appropriate dressing within the House.
“You are now an advocate and we congratulate you, but this House is not a courtroom,” Wetang’ula noted during the session.
The incident comes shortly after Babu Owino celebrated his official admission as an advocate of the High Court of Kenya. His appearance in courtroom regalia, however, sparked a brief debate about dressing protocols within different arms of government.
Although Owino’s intention may have been to proudly showcase his new status, the Speaker made it clear that professional milestones shouldn’t override institutional decorum.
Parliament may welcome new advocates — but it still insists on leaving the courtroom attire at the door.
