Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has been thrown out of the Senate chambers for inappropriate dressing.

The senator, during the Wednesday, October 29, 2025, afternoon sitting, appeared in the Senate wearing a turtleneck pullover inside his coat.

Migori Senator Eddy Oketch was the one who notified Speaker Amason Kingi of the dress code of the Majority Whip, seeking his indulgence on whether the dressing was in accordance with parliamentary standards.

“I am standing under Rule 15 of the Speaker’s dress code. I just wanted clarity on whether the Majority Whip is dressed accordingly, so that next time I show up in a turtleneck in this cold, I can be able to do so. I just wanted clarification from the Speaker,” he said.

Senate dressing code

The Speaker later rose to rule on the matter following Oketch’s plea, ruling Khalwale out of order and ordering him to leave the chambers to dress properly as per the parliamentary dress code and return.

The Speaker continued to state that nobody is allowed to approach the Senate chambers without being dressed in a suit, which comprises a coat, collar, tie, and trousers, except for religious attire which is exempted.

“The person should be dressed in a coat, collar, tie, long trousers, socks, and shoes, or service uniform, religious attire, or other approved dressings. Senator Boni, you are in breach of this particular rule, and I will allow you to dress as per the rule and come back immediately,” the Speaker said.

Khalwale proceeded to do as per the Speaker’s instruction.

Nyamu’s similar incident

This comes a month after the Senate Speaker Amason Kingi issued a warning to nominated senator Karen Nyamu after she entered the Senate chambers in a manner that went against the official dress code.

The incident occurred during the Senate’s afternoon session on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, when the senator arrived wearing her jacket on one side while the other side was left hanging.

The matter was brought to the speaker’s attention by Kitui senator Enoch Wambua, who called for the speaker’s intervention to enforce the chamber’s rules and take action against Nyamu’s mode of dressing.

Wambua argued that should the speaker fail to deliver his ruling on these, he would be setting a dangerous precedent where members would be attending senate sessions while improperly dressed.