12/12/2003
WECHE MOKADHO
JEXJALUO ****
;
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
,
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
Ka in gi mari moro ma di wandik ka to
orni
Akelo nyar Kager
jaluo@jaluo.com
Daher winjo dwondi in bende,
iwinjo?
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WuonAbila@jaluo.com
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