While women are more associated with earrings, there has always been a myth surrounding men who wear them.
Men who wear earrings are often questioned about their sexuality, but some have embraced them as a style or for reasons known only to them. A majority of those who do so are mostly in the entertainment industry, sports, and other casual professions.
For officials working in the country’s government, this has been very rare. It is uncommon to encounter a man holding a high government office wearing earrings.
In Kenya, for example, former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga was the subject of debate over wearing an earring throughout his tenure as the head of the Judiciary.
Despite the accusations and criticism, Mutunga never backed down from wearing the earring and still does to date.
In this segment, Times Digital Kenya takes a closer look at why Willy Mutunga decided to wear an earring before, during, and after serving as Chief Justice.
Reason for Mutunga Wearing an Earring
Dr Willy Mutunga, a reform activist, is on record explaining the main reason he always wears an earring. According to the former Chief Justice, he does not wear the earring as a symbol of his sexuality but of his spirituality.
In 2011, during his appearance before the Parliamentary Committee on the Implementation of the Constitution after he was nominated as Chief Justice, he was asked what was behind his wearing of an earring.
Mutunga said it was in 2003 when his two ancestors asked him to do so. By having it on his ear at all times, the ancestors would always offer him protection.
“I have two ancestors, a man and a woman. They both had earrings and in 2003, as I prayed to them, they instructed me to wear one so that they can protect me,” Mutunga said in a past interview.
After he was sworn in as Chief Justice, Willy Mutunga did not back down from wearing it and even had it on during court sessions. During his entire tenure, his earring was one of the most controversial topics in Kenya.
To this day, years after leaving office as Chief Justice, he still wears it whenever he attends public or private events.
