Flag of Kenya – Colors, Meaning, History ??

The flag of Kenya is not only a national symbol but also a sovereign state. Kenyans adopted the flag on 12th December 1963 after obtaining independence from British rule. At the time, the country was under the control of its first president Jomo Kenyatta (Swahili: Mzee Jomo Kenyatta). The flag represents the citizens of Kenya.

History of the Flag of Kenya

Kenya was historically under the influence of three foreign powers. First, the Portuguese and the Omani Arabs entered the country through the East African coast. The Portuguese initially arrived in 1498. The arrival of the Vasco Da Gama fleet signaled the control of the Indian Ocean trade route by the Portuguese. The Portuguese were cruel to the local people. They only negotiated with the ruler of Malindi. For about 200 years, the Portuguese influence was along the East African coast.

Arabs, mainly the Omani Arabs, have been trading along the East Coast of Africa since the 11th century. Their influence along the coast triggered the development of cities. They were able to arrive at the shore via the Monsoon winds. This winds would change twice a year. As a result, the ships would be ready to visit the coast and go back to the Middle East within twelve months. History also accounts that people from Greece and the Roman Empire have once settled along the East African coast between the first to the 7th century. Although these foreign powers played a significant role in shaping the culture and history of the people, it was the Kenyan population that inevitably chose the design of the flag.

In 1895, Kenya was under the governance of the British Protectorate. The flag had a blue background with a British ensign at the upper left corner and a red lion next to the ensign. This flag was used from 1895-1920. In 1893, a section of the country was annexed by the Germans. The newly acquired territory was known as the Witu protectorate. The flag of the colony was a red background with the British ensign at the center.

After World War II, the leading political party in Kenya was the Kenyan African Union (KAU). Jomo Kenyatta took charge of KAU in 1947. Five years later, some historians report that Kenyatta had made a speech to the Mau Mau. The Mau Mau were the militant liberation movement in the country that fought for independence then. In a statement, Kenyatta told the fighters that the country’s fertile lands could only be reclaimed by blood. This is the blood of the African (represented by the color black). This is why the red stripe on the flag separates the colors black and green. The Africans had to shed blood so that he could obtain the fertile lands that were under British control.

KAU’s flag consisted of black and red stripes with a central shield and an arrow. The party adopted this flag on 23rd September 1951. In 1952, the party changed the flag to a tricolored flag made up of the color black, red, and green. The colors were horizontally placed, and at the center was a white central emblem. The green represented the fertile land of the country, the red represented the blood of the independence fighters, whereas the black represented the people. The weapons located at the center of the flag are a reminder of the struggle for independence.

In 1963, the dream of a free African nation was realized at the Lancaster House Conference Center. Thousands of foreigners fled for their lives as the people of Kenya chanted “Uhuru na Kenyatta” (freedom and Kenyatta). The flag was raised for the first time at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi at Midnight. This was after 68 years of British occupation. The colors of the flag are similar to the Pan-African flag of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA). The union’s flag consists of three equal horizontal stripes of red, green, and black. Black represented all of the people of African ancestry, whereas red represented the bloodshed for liberation. Lastly, green signified the natural wealth of the African continent. UNIA was at its peak in the 1920s. However, the Jamaican born organization declined since then.

Some leaders were against the design of the flag, particularly from the Kenyan African Democratic Union (KADU). They had a separate design secretly prepared for the occasion. This design consisted of two white stripes and the Maasai shield instead of the cockerel that was in the KANU flag. Tom Mboya, the leader of KADU, cautioned against the adoption of the KAU (which had changed to KANU) as the national flag. According to Tom Mboya, the approval of the banner would polarize the country. Kenyatta responded to this concern by adding white fimbriations within the horizontal stripes.

What is the meaning behind the colors of the Flag of Kenya

Colors
The flag of Kenya consists of black, red, and green horizontal stripes with white edges appearing at the top and the bottom of the red line at the center. Officially, the black color, which is at the top of the flag represents the people. The central horizontal red stripe represents the bloodshed of the fighters whereas the green represents the fertile lands of the country. Kenya is largely agrarian. Alternatively, the green on the flag symbolizes the natural reserves and agriculture that are the backbone of the economy. The white fimbriations (narrow borders) symbolize peace and unity.

There is an unofficial interpretation of the flag. First, the flag’s colors have come to symbolize the continuity of the struggle against oppression. Although the flag symbolizes the historical events that shaped Kenya. It is also a reminder of the continual battle of the people so that they could enjoy a decent life. Some take the flag as a symbol of the realities and aspirations that they have as citizens of the republic. Moreover, others view the flag as a constant reminder that the black is separated from the green.

Emblem
The flag consists of a Maasai shield located at the center. There are two crossed spears placed behind the shield. The shield consists of the colors red, black, and white. The flanks of the shield are black with a white disk at the center of the shield and four white charges.

Both the shield and the spears symbolize the fight and the defense of freedom. They represent the enthusiasm and readiness to protect the independence and sovereignty of the country. Also, the shield and the spear symbolizes the defense of all the things represented by the colors of the flag.

Shape
The flag’s proportions are based on the height to width ratio of 2:3. The three horizontal stripes are of equal proportion. Therefore, if the flag is 20 inches in height, then each of the lines is 6 inches. The remaining 2 inches are for the white fimbriations located within the flag (each 1 inch, respectively). Therefore, the stripes are in the ratio 6+1+6+1+6.

The shield appears at the center of the flag. The diameter of the armor at the center is 6 inches if the width of the flag is 30 inches. The height of the shield is 12 inches, and the spears located behind the shield cross at the midpoint of the flag.

The flag of Kenya is incorporated in all the military flags of the country. This includes the Defence Forces Flag of Kenya, the Air Force Flag of Kenya, the Naval Ensign of Kenya, and the Presidential color of the Kenyan Navy. The flag is usually located at the top-left hand corner of all the military flags. The Airforce flag, for instance, consists of a light blue background with a tricolored roundel at the center. The roundel has the colors black, red, and green, respectively, with a white border within the colors. At the top left corner of the Airforce, the flag is the national flag.

Interesting Facts about the Flag of Kenya

A majority of the flags in Africa have some resemblance to their colonial powers. Whereas former French colonies have banners with the tricolors red-green-yellow, those of the Anglophone have the colors green, blue, white, and black. The flag of Kenya falls on the Anglophone side with its black and green stripes.
KAU (Kenya African Union) is the party that inspired the flag of Kenya. Their party flag was modified by removing the cockerel at the center and replacing it with the Maasai shield and the two spears. Also, the flag was modified by adding the two white stripes within it. In 1960, the party changed its name to the Kenya Africa National Union (KANU).
Since its independence, the country has had four presidents. Each of the Presidency has had its unique design of the flag as a representation of their Presidential standard. For instance, the second President of the republic had his banner designed with a green background, a Maasai shield at the center with two yellow spears crossed at the front of the buffer. Next to the shield, at the right, between the spears was a cockerel.
The first time the flag of Kenya was raised was at midnight. When the Union Jack was lowered, the lights were off. The lights were moved to another flag pole where the flag of the New Republic of Kenya was unfurled. The National Anthem was also played for the first time on this day (12th December 1963) as the flag was hoisted. The crowd shouted “Uhuru,” which is a Swahili word for freedom.
Kisoi Munyao is the man who raised the new flag on Mount Kirinyaga. This mountain is the popular Mount Kenya. In 1963, he climbed Mount Kenya to hoist the flag as a symbol of independence. He did this on the eve of independence. The mountain has come to represent the freedom of the people of Kenya.
The Capital city, Nairobi, has its own flag. This flag consists of a rectangular bi-color with a dark green background and a yellow triangle. The yellow triangle extends from the left corner with the tip reaching the other end. Within the yellow triangle is a shield that is derived from the county arms. Also, the upper fly is a gold lion ‘rampant guardant’ that was also adopted from the county arms. Initially, the city had a flag that consisted of equally shaped rectangular boxes of alternating green and yellow. At the center of the flag is a circle with blue waves alternating with white. However, the new flag came into use in 2013.
Whereas the flag is hoisted quickly, it is lowered ceremoniously.
Some view the flag as a manifestation of the issues that have remained unsolved since colonization.
When KANU lost power in 2002, and the country’s Rainbow coalition came to power, there were talks for a new flag. However, a design for a new banner was never pursued.
The colors of the flag, black, red and green are also recognized as the colors for black liberation.
The Maasai shield in the flag is derived from the Maasai people. They are one of the most famous tribes in the country.
However, they are also one of the smallest tribes in Kenya. The Maasai are recognized as one of the few tribes that have upheld its African culture.
The rules governing the use of the flag are located within the constitution. The basic Kenya flag etiquette states that anyone handling the flag must handle it with due care and consideration. The flag should be hoisted correctly (the blackband should be on top, and the spears should point upwards). It is forbidden to drag the flag on the ground. Also, the flag should never be displayed, stored, used, or fastened in a manner that will end up damaging it, soiling, or tearing it.
It is common to find body tattoos, bracelets, shoes, and outfits with amazing designs of the flag.