Dreary and poorly dressed personalities in need of a makeover!

Public figures should have a great sense of fashion to project the correct image. If you are in a leadership position, you would want to command respect and project authority, not attract snide remarks and sniggers that some of our public figures elicit.

Not surprisingly, the late John Michuki’s and Nairobi governor Evans Kidero’s torn socks were greeted with acerbic humour from Nairobians who expected nothing less than a crisp and natty look that corresponds with their office.  It was the same case with ever dark-suited and ‘authority-clad’ Obama when he opted for a beige suit in August and became the subject of a press conference in Russia.

A tweet to the Washington Post read: “Who gave President Obama that old church suit from my dad’s closet?”

In Kenya, we have a long list of fashion-challenged leaders who make appearances in rather goofy, oversize clothes, tacky jewellery and Stone Age hairdos. Here is our list of shame:

Mike ‘Sonko’ Mbuvi - Nairobi senator

He is almost a turbo-charged reincarnation of Simon Mbugua (former Kamukunji MP), but with a touch for the flashy and flamboyant. Certainly, he only follows his own counsel. There is however consensus among Kenyans that he is at least now making an effort to adopt a style that befits his age.

His eccentric hairstyles and wardrobe choice portrays him as a dubious character. Screaming yellow shirts emblazoned with outlandishly combative messages like ‘Takataka Ghasia Nyinyi,’ as well as faded and shredded jeans have done little to endear him to those who count on propriety in their leaders. Sonko is like a mobile disco ball, decked with flashy and multiple jewellery - gold rings on each finger, multiple gold bracelets and a manifold of shimmering chains around his neck. At this rate, you would expect him to sag his trousers, which thankfully he is yet to consider.

Isaac Ruto - Bomet governor

Ruto is an outspoken governor in dire need of bespoke shirts - shirts with collars that don’t look like the wings of a bird ready to fly off.

Just about every shirt he owns has collars extending the breadth of his shoulders, overlying his coat lapels. Image consultant Robert Burale says, “Ruto is an eloquent man, and with a little styling, he can cut the image of a serious leader, even possibly a future president.”

 Josephat Nanok - Turkana governor

His choice of suits, shirts and ties is a violent, rainbow wheel, mish-mash of colours. His oversized and tasteless shirts can easily make him get lost in a crowd of three in the busy Industrial Area of Nairobi where Nairobi’s tyrannised eke out a living.

Fashion conscious Ken Odonde thinks Nanok could be colour blind as “there is no way a man can have a taste for such a clash of colours and see nothing wrong with his ensemble. He is dark, so he also needs clothes that compliment his skin colour. Wearing grey shirts, and brown trousers, do nothing for his public image.”

Adds Odonde, “Nanok also wears shirts which are usually a few sizes too big, making him look as if he is wearing his older brother’s clothes.”

Ferdinand Waititu - former Embakasi MP

Waititu is the infamous one, who lacks in civility as has been proven time and again by his stone-hurling antics, and his dreary oversized, checked coats. His open-necked shirts is typical of ‘House of Mumbi’ men.

‘Baba Yao’ needs to drop the ‘unschooled businessman from Central Kenya’ image and and adopt a more urbane mien in speech, mannerism and fashion. The roguish look just doesn’t work.

Fashion designer Fundi Frank, says Waititu needs to get a tailor who knows the size of his clothes perfectly. “I would dress him in fitted suits in cool colours like light blue. I also recommend better leather shoes and would steer clear of crocodile skin footwear. During weekends, fitting jeans and polo shirts will do him great. I would even let him top it up with a cowboy’s hat for some little swag.”

Anyang Nyong’o - Kisumu senator

The ODM luminary is sharp, eloquent and does not suffer mediocrity. Surprisingly, his wardrobe is rather uninspiring and you may be excused for thinking that he buys his suits from a shop along Digo Road, that part of town where street lights don’t work. The suits that the professor wear are usually of solid dark colours, the kind that you would expect from a jobber who has just cashed his first pay cheque. What Nyong’o needs is a wardrobe of well-cut and high quality blue suits.

Risper Faith - socialite

For a woman whose claim to fame is a big tushy, there are so many things that can go wrong. To begin with, that Blaqy video shouldn’t have happened, we are still haunted by the sight of her cellulite-scarred thighs. Even before we talk about dressing, we recommend hitting the gym to firm up the flabby flesh.

Now that we are done with that, we propose something unusual for Risper, a long dress. Really! You don’t have to be skimpily dressed to bring out your sexy side.

Nyota Ndogo - musician

Her golden voice and dance moves can put Shakira to shame.

We understand that Nyota did not always have the good things in life and apparently, at some point, she was a domestic worker. But that’s no excuse to keep looking like a mboch. Girlfriend, you are a star now, rock the world of fashion. If you are harbouring thoughts of tying stockings on your head and getting all wrapped up in leso, Shindwe! Fundi Frank couldn’t have put it better: “Nyota Ndogo should simply copy Lady Jaydee. She would look so good.”

Julius Karangi - Chief of Kenya Defence Forces

A few weeks back, Kenyan women online were drooling over the picture of Commander-in-Chief Uhuru Kenyatta sporting military fatigues.

Later, more pictures emerged of the CIC and his Chief of Kenya Defence Forces, Julius Karangi, also in full military uniform. The image of a lean and athletic president being saluted by a portly Karangi in awkwardly fitting military regalia was a spectacle. 

Karangi’s body shape seems to have been molded into a rotund form after years of soft living with little physical exaction. Kenya must be one of a handful countries with a military chief who looks like a participant in the ‘The Biggest Loser’ reality show.

Raychelle Omamo - Defense Cabinet Secretary

Raychelle is preceded by her long, flowing, African print dresses. But what is conspicuous about her is her invisibility. She melts in crowds in quiet conservative deportment. You will not feel her authority and her sense of fashion is as amorphous as her personality.

Nameless - musician

We have no issue with artistes having a signature or trademark look. But you don’t have to be stuck in a time warp. The durag that Nameless loves so much was all the rage some 10 plus years ago. Now, Bwana David Mathenge, you need to accept this and move on, otherwise what’s the point of sporting dreadlocks if you are going tie a scarf on your head!