Mama Sarah covers up journalist with short skirt at event, encourages women to dress decently

It was a slightly chilly afternoon in Eldoret. Some landowners were waiting to receive their title deeds in a ceremony graced by President William Ruto's mother Mama Sarah Cheruiyot.

But the event would later turn into laughter as the never-ending debate on how women should dress decently played out - this time in public.

Elderly women and their young counterparts say the dressing debate has raged for years now and the two generations have remained far apart; in two different worlds.

Elderly women such as Mama Sarah, the President's mother, believe that wearing a dress below the knee, covering the entire chest, and not putting on tight clothes is decency.

But millennials feel that a dress above the knee, showing chests and wearing tight-fitting clothes is fashionable and should not be frowned upon by mothers and grandmothers.

Recently, Mama Sarah offered to wrap Zipporah Achieng with a Maasai shuka in the title deed issuance event after she (Mama Sarah) observed that the latter, who was doing videography at the ceremony had a skirt above her knee.

Mama Sarah, 81, had attended the June 22 event alongside Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii. She was among the landowners who received their title deeds that day.

The 21-year-old upcoming journalist had her sights on the camera as she sought to produce the best video footage for the event, but Mama Sarah had a feeling that she needed to cover her legs. She had braved long hours to get the best shot.

The videographer, who is on her internship at a national TV station, was dressed in a grey bodycon dress reaching slightly above her knees.

Minutes into the event, Mama Sarah who was seated as she shared light moments with dignitaries including Governor Bii and Uasin Gishu Assembly speaker Philip Muigei stood and steadily walked towards Achieng and warmly wrapped a blue Maasai shuka around the young journalist, as she smiled.

Moments after she had been covered by Mama Sarah, the videographer left the event before returning later dressed in a blue trouser suit and went straight to meet the President's mother at the podium. They laughed with Mama Sarah and other dignitaries before she left to continue with her duties.

Tradition

Later, as Mama Sarah took to the podium she explained to the more than 500 Uasin Gishu locals who were waiting to receive title deeds why she clothed the budding journalist.

She used the opportunity to educate old women on the importance of reviving the tradition of carrying shuka or lesos whenever they leave their houses.

Mama Sarah said culturally, African women left their houses with shukas and lesos which were purposely used to cover their counterparts whose clothes were torn and those who had not dressed decently.

"Do not feel like I have come to shame you. I have come to bless you. I ask mothers not to forget the tradition of walking with Shuka, today you have seen how important it is," Mama Sarah told the journalist in her speech.

She pleaded with the videographer not to be irked by her decision to bless her with a Maasai shuka, saying she was playing the responsibility of grandmother.

"When I got here, I saw my grandchild (the videographer) ...her clothes were very short. Then I asked myself, what if that camera falls, how would she be able to pick it up? I said I have to bless her by covering her up," Mama Sarah explained in a Kalenjin speech translated by Governor Bii.

The President's mother went ahead to say: "We were taught long ago that a woman should not go anywhere without a shuka. I believe you were all taught you might meet an expectant woman on the road about to deliver and you don't have anything to cover her with," she said.

The move reignited the debate on decent dressing and attracted mixed reactions from millennials.

"I don't agree with elders who have refused to agree with the fact that dressing has changed the same way religion and education changed. Our elders should not be quick to judge," Brenda Wasike said.

Correcting with love

Monica Miano posted on social media, "I agree with her (Mama Sarah). The first thing my late mother would do when you visited her with anything short or trousers and our father was around, was to approach you with a leso, and then hug you as she whispers to you to cover up. This was a great lesson I learned from gogo (old lady)."

An elder David Kosgei lauded Mama Sarah for what he described as "correction with love."

I urge elderly women to borrow a leaf from Mama Sarah. It is the best way to correct millennials.

"I often feel embarrassed when my granddaughters wear miniskirts in my presence. Traditionally, clothes that cover the legs are a show of respect for elders, he says.

The journalist told her colleagues after the event that Mama Sarah's move had taken her by surprise, and described it as a good gesture and show of love.

"I am still perfecting my skills in videography and I was touched by Mama Sarah's motherly love. She was kind to me and from that kindness, I discovered that there was a lot to learn," the journalist said.