Mutula 'beaten' over miniskirts

By Robert Nyasato
Education Minister Mutula Kilonzo received a ‘beating’ across many churches at the weekend over his support mini skirts in schools.

The Catholic Church faulted Mutula over his remarks that students are free to wear mini-skirts and told him to stop misleading learners for his selfish interests. Some even called for his resignation but Mutula too had many parents and even columnists on his side.

A section of the leaders accused Mutula of lowering the morals in schools while claiming that “students should wear mini-skirts and be allowed to be modern like him.”

The debate soared as Kenyans questioned whether school uniforms should be retained or be abolished all together.

Mutula and his love miniskirts was similarly a hot topic on social media where he was caricatured on various platforms.

Some even borrowed from Miguna Miguna’s book and christened Mutula to have authored a new book called Peeling Back the Skirt (adapted from Peeling Back the Mask: A quest for Justice).

Parents were divided over the actual length of the skirts school uniforms should be.

But Catholics were angered by public remarks where Mutula likened long skirts as belonging to nuns.

Mutula had said “the students were not training to be nuns and should not be forced to wear long skirts.”

Homabay Catholic diocese bishop Philip Anyolo and his Kisii diocese counterpart Joseph Mairura said Mutula is an elderly and respected lawyer who should respect children and show exemplary leadership.

Addressing Christians at Nyabururu catholic church during a thanks giving mass for Bishop Mairura’s 17 years anniversary since he was appointed bishop, Anyolo urged parents and teachers to shun Mutula’s statements and mold children well to be responsible citizens.

Anyolo, who is the Kenya Episcopal Conference vice chairman, told students to disregard the minister’s advise, stressing the church will not keep quiet when leaders pollute the minds of the youth into doing wrong things.

Bishop Mairura said Mutula’s remarks were an embarrassment to the lawyers and asked the learned friends to prevail upon him cease making such serious statements which might incite students against teachers and parents.

Mairura noted that if Mutula’s counsel was heeded, it would make the girl-child vulnerable and lead to erosion of moral values, crimes and conflicts in the society and advised the students to dress decently at home and in schools too.