Babu Owino Ejected from Parliament

Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino was recently ejected from the National Assembly chambers by Speaker Moses Wetangula due to his attire. The incident occurred on Tuesday, July 1, when Owino appeared in Parliament dressed in an advocate's collar and bib, an outfit deemed improper under the House's official dress code. This action sparked a notable reaction from the legislator, who expressed his displeasure with the Speaker's decision.
The issue was first brought to the attention of Speaker Wetangula by Mathare Member of Parliament Anthony Oluoch. Oluoch questioned the appropriateness of Babu Owino's lawyer's attire within the parliamentary setting. He highlighted that the Speaker himself, along with the Speaker's panel, often wore a collar, but questioned if Owino's specific dress, akin to a Speaker's attire, conformed to the House's proper dressing code and traditions. Oluoch emphasized the need for guidance on this matter, expressing concern that such attire could set an undesirable precedent and cause confusion within the chambers, even joking that he might be compelled to bring his own collar.
In response to Oluoch's concern, Speaker Moses Wetangula upheld the objection, ruling that Babu Owino was indeed improperly dressed. Wetangula sternly directed Owino to leave the chamber, stating, "I order you to retreat from the House, dress up, and come back." The Speaker also cited historical precedent, noting that even senior legal professionals and members of Parliament like Millie Odhiambo, Senior Counsel Otiende Amollo, the late Otieno Kajwang’, and Gladys Shollei, despite their legal backgrounds, have never appeared dressed in such a manner in Parliament. As Owino exited, Wetangula reiterated the order for him to leave without creating any scene.
Babu Owino, through a clip shared shortly after his ejection, vociferously lamented the Speaker's decision, claiming it was unwarranted and politically motivated. He found the move both laughable and ironic, especially given that Speaker Wetangula himself was also clad in a similar collar. Owino argued that he had spent more than six years studying to become an advocate – four years for his undergraduate degree and two years at the Kenya School of Law – to earn the right to wear such attire. He contrasted this significant effort with other Members of Parliament, who, he contended, simply purchased ties from a shop in five minutes. This, he implied, made his ejection for wearing a hard-earned dress code particularly unfair. Owino maintained that he had since forgiven Wetangula for what he perceived as a politically driven removal from Parliament.
It is worth noting that Babu Owino was among 609 lawyers admitted to the bar on May 23, 2025, in an event presided over by Chief Justice Martha Koome and other senior judicial officers. Since his admission, the MP has actively participated in various court proceedings, including the ongoing case of Ndiangui Kinyagia, whose whereabouts remain unknown, showcasing his engagement with his newly acquired legal profession.