Popular Nairobi church bans congregants from wearing rugged jeans, miniskirts

Dressing appropriately when going to church has been a topic of discussion for many years as the young and the old tussle over what exactly is acceptable.

While the old prefer long dresses, the young believe it is all about the heart and focusing on dressing is hypocrisy.

Well, St Peter Claver’s Catholic Church located in the Nairobi CBD has banned congregants from attending mass in indecent clothing.


The church went ahead to put a huge banner at the entrance with clear examples of what will not be accepted in the compound.

Topping the list were dresses with long slits, rugged jeans, crop tops, miniskirts, t-shirts with questionable messages, etc.

Caps, sunglasses and some chains were also displayed on the banner. Sagging is also disallowed.

The Catholic church is largely considered conservative unlike the ‘modern’ churches where the leadership does not pay a lot of attention to dressing.

Some preachers believe dressing appropriately is important as attention can be drawn to the wrong ‘things’ leading to sin.

What exactly is modest?

The Bible mentions a number of things about dressing although some might argue that times have changed.

1 Timothy 2:9-10 "Paul said: I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God."

This verse basically states that good deeds matter more than outward appearance.

1 Peter 3:2-5 "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful.

A similar verse also echoes the message but it is important to note that what you consider modest might not be decent to another.