Ruto Must Enforce Dress Code- Ahmednasir Mocks CS Kuria's Military Outfit

Renowned Nairobi-based lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi has now urged President William Ruto to consider implementing a dress code to be adhered to by all Cabinet Secretaries.

Ahmednasir was reacting to photos of Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria dressed in camouflaged military regalia ahead of the unveiling of the National Youth Service (NYS) Re-engineering programme at the NYS headquarters in Ruaraka, Nairobi County on Wednesday, October 25.

In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), the lawyer turned into a temporary fashion critic by mocking Kuria's choice of attire, claiming that he was still exuding childhood behaviours.

He also claimed that CSs were leaning more into military uniforms as compared to the official dress code (mostly suits), adding that they were making a laughing stock of the dockets they hold.

CS Moses Kuria wears NYS regalia ahead of the inaugural ceremony parade at the NYS Headquarters in Ruaraka on October 25, 2023. /MOSES KURIA

“H.E. William Ruto should enforce a strict dress code on his ministers. I don't like cabinet secretaries Hon Moses Kuria living their childhood fantasies or trying to impress their village mates at taxpayers' expense by dressing in jungle military regalia with their names and titles printed on it.

“This fetish obsession with military uniforms by his Ministers makes a complete nonsense/joke of the offices they hold,” stated Ahmednasir.

Some netizens however supported Kuria's decision to don the regalia, with user Abuga Makori believing that the CS was displaying his authority with his new role in the Public Service.

"It is just a symbol of authority. The garments and not even close to what the military wears," Makori argued.

Another user commented, "This is not military; it is NYS regalia." 

NYS officers usually don jungle-green uniforms from meticulously arranged headgear to polished black boots to show unity and discipline.

Ahmednasir's comments came a day after Head of Public Service and Chief of Staff Felix Koskei slammed civil servants for their inadequate compliance with working hours, dress codes, official languages, the code of conduct, and standards of norms.

While lamenting how the work culture in the public service has extremely deteriorated, to unacceptable levels, Koskei called on Human Resource managers to ensure they gatekeep the culture in government departments to ensure that standards are maintained.

“Let us not drop our guard. You need to know that as a human resource officer, director, and manager all officers, and employees are looking upon you,” Koskei said.

He also raised complaints regarding the lack of professionalism in the government in areas like promotion, deployment, designation, and staff development.

“As you know and as I am aware, in our institutions we have what we call career trainees, somebody moving from one training to another one, changing clothes at the airport, who attend every training seminar and conference," he commented.

The Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei during the 27th Annual National Human Resource Management Conference at a Naivasha hotel on October 24, 2023. /PCS