The national flag of Kenya has three equal width horizontal bands of black (top), red (middle) and green (bottom) colors running from left to right separated by white stripes, with a symmetrical shield and white spears superimposed in the middle.
Kenyan Flag Symbolism and Meaning
The color black symbolizes the people of Kenya, red the blood that was shed during the fight for freedom, green symbolizes the Kenya’s rich agricultural land and natural resources and color white symbolizes peace.
The color white, the traditional Maasai warrior shield and the two spears were added after Kenya got its independence. The shield and the two spears symbolize that all Kenyans are always ready to defend the independence they fought so hard for.
Design
All Materials to conform to the appropriate B.S.S (British Standard Specifications). Dimensions given do not necessarily represent any particular measurements and are merely proportional. The Kenya flag has an overall dimensions ratio of 3:2, the three stripes have a ratio of 6+1+6+1+6.
Colors: Red to be ‘Post Office Red’, B.S shade reference 0-006, Green to be B.S shade reference 0-010.
History and Origin
The flag of Kenya is based on the black over red over green flag of KANU (Kenya African National Union), the political party that led Kenya to independence.
On independence, the white fimbriation, symbolizing peace and unity, and traditional Maasai warrior shield and two white spears were added. The flag of Kenya was officially adopted on 12 December 1963.
Variants
Executive
Presidential Standard of Jomo Kenyatta
Presidential Standard of Daniel Arap Moi
Presidential Standard of Mwai Kibaki
Presidential Standard of Uhuru Kenyatta, Incumbent President of Kenya
Defence Forces
Flag of Kenya Navy
Presidential Standard of the Navy
Flag of Kenya Defence Forces
Flag of Kenya Air Force
County flags
Flag of Nairobi. A heraldic fountain on a quartered yellow and green background. Nairobi is Kenya’s capital and the largest city.
Flag of Mombasa county. Mombasa is Kenya’s second largest city situated along the Indian Ocean. It is a regional, cultural and economic hub.
Kenya has forty-seven counties. The first county governments were elected on 4 March 2013. To date not all county assemblies have passed the design of the county flags. When the counties adopt their flags we shall publish a page. Subscribe to our Newsletter here to be informed and to receive updates about other new content as well as travel tips.
Historical Flags of Kenya
British East Africa Company
Flag of the Witu Protectorate, between 31 July 1893 – 1920.
A Union Flag (Proportions: 15:27) with a red border Proportions: 37:57
Flag of the Witu Protectorate, between 31 July 1893 – 1920.
Proportions: 1:2
Governor’s flag, between 1880 – 1920. A Union Flag defaced with the crown and beneath it the golden sun
State ensign, between 1880 – 1920. British Blue Ensign with the crown and beneath it the golden sun
Civil ensign, between 1880 – 1920. British Red Ensign with the crown and beneath it the golden sun
British Protectorate of Kenya
Flag of Colonial Kenya, between the years 1921-1963. Made out of a British Blue Ensign with an emblem of Kenya
Terminology & Etiquette in Kenyan Flag display
Terminology
Hoist – the act of raising the Kenyan flag, as on a rope
Manner of hoisting – The Kenyan flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously.
Half Staff or Half Mast – the Kenyan flag is hoisted to half of the potential height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning. Performed by first raising the Kenyan flag to the top, then lowering the flag halfway.
Distress – denoted by flying the Kenyan flag upside-down.
Kenyan Flag Etiquette
The Kenyan Flag Etiquette is strict in ensuring the fundamental protocols and rules are followed correctly in ensuring proper treatment of the Kenyan Flag.
The Basic Kenyan flag etiquette is as follows:
- Etiquette relating to the order of precedence for the flag
- National Flag of Kenya
- State Flag of Kenya
- Military Flag of Kenya (in order of creation date)
- Other Flags of Kenya (e.g. City Council Flag)
- Due care and consideration must be taken to ensure that the Kenyan flag is always flown the correct way up (black band on top and the spears pointed upwards).
- No disrespect should be shown to the Kenyan flag.
- The Kenyan flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to permit the Flag to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way.
- The Kenyan flag should never be allowed to drag along the ground.
- A faded or tattered flag of Kenya should be removed and replaced with a new flag
- A Flag of Kenya, when in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning it in private with all due care and respect.
- The Kenyan flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing on the flag of any nature.
- The Kenyan flag should be hoisted first and lowered last.
- International Flag Etiquette relating to Kenyan Flag usage forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of peace.
Kenya National Anthem
Another symbol of national unity is the Kenya national anthem. It is available in Kiswahili (Kenya’s national language) and English.
The national anthem is normally played during national events for example, national holidays and international events, for example when Kenyan athletes excel.
The singing of the national anthem usually coincides with the hoisting of the Kenyan flag.
Below is the Kenya National Anthem in both Kiswahili and English.
Kiswahili – Kenya National Anthem
Ee Mungu nguvu yetu
Ilete baraka kwetu
Haki iwe ngao na mlinzi
Natukae na undugu
Amani na uhuru
Raha tupate na ustawi. Amkeni ndugu zetu
Tufanye sote bidii
Nasi tujitoe kwa nguvu
Nchi yetu ya Kenya
Tunayoipenda
Tuwe tayari kuilinda. Natujenge taifa letu
Ee, ndio wajibu wetu
Kenya istahili heshima
Tuungane mikono
Pamoja kazini
Kila siku tuwe na shukrani.
English – Kenya National Anthem
O God of all creation
Bless this our land and nation
Justice be our shield and defender
May we dwell in unity
Peace and liberty
Plenty be found within our borders. Let one and all arise
With hearts both strong and true
Service be our earnest endeavor
And our homeland of Kenya
Heritage of splendor
Firm may we stand to defend. Let all with one accord
In common bond united
Build this our nation together
And the glory of Kenya
The fruit of our labor
Fill every heart with thanksgiving.
Listen to the Kenyan National Anthem in English
Listen to the Kenyan National Anthem – Instrumental
Brief History of the National Anthem of Kenya
While under colonial rule, the country’s official anthem was the British anthem “God Save the Queen” and “Kenya Land of the Lion” was the national song sung at sporting and other such events.
Lyrics of “Kenya Land of the Lion”
Kenya! Land of the lion
Land of adventure and sun
Land where friendship and laughter
Wait for those who come after.
Onward! Grey skies or blue
We’ll march steadfast and true.
Kenyans, staunch and united
We’ll march on.
Kenya! Land of enchantment
We’ll hold your banner on high.
Clear our voices are ringing
Youth and hope in our singing.
What of glory and fame?
We’ll just stick to the game.
Kenyans, staunch and united
We’ll march on.
Origins
The tune of the Kenyan National Anthem is an African song from the Pokomo community, a small ethnic group in Kenya’s Coast province. It is a lullaby sang by mothers to their children.
Prior to Kenya attaining its independence on 12 December 1963, the government commissioned a five-member team to come up with a new anthem. The team considered tunes from various parts of the country.
It was expected that the lyrics would express the deepest convictions and the highest aspirations of the people as a whole. The tune also had to lend itself to appropriate harmonisation and orchestration for performance by a military band, without impairing the original tonality of the melody.
Amazing Designs Inspired by the Kenya Flag
Here are amazing designs inspired by the Kenya flag.
What better way is there to express your love for Kenya than to have a tattoo of the Kenya flag
You can type the Kenya flag and your other favourite emojis on your Mac and Windows laptop or desktop computer, no copy-pasting required. On Mac the key combination Command + Control + Space will open a small panel. Scroll to the Kenya flag. Additionally, in some pictographs, mostly the ones depicting individual human characters, you can choose skin tone by clicking and holding to change from the default color.
In Windows 8 or Windows 10, all you have to do is activate the Touch Keyboard by clicking the keyboard icon in the lower-right corner of the taskbar. From here, click on the smiley face, which will replace the regular alphabetical keyboard. Use the left and right arrow keys to scroll through, or click the category buttons at the bottom.
When you spot the Kenya flag ???????? or the emoji you want, click on it and it will appear in your text field.
The emoji keyboard palette works in some websites and apps. To increase the size of the flag, increase the font size.
Other Pages That May Interest You
- History of Kenya From Pre-colonial Period To Today
- Kenya History After Independence (1963)
- Tourism in Kenya
- Economy of Kenya
- Cities in Kenya
- Kenya Facts
Kenya > History of Kenya > Kenyan Flag
This doesn’t say much about history of the flag. I expected more.
Am proud of my country…mwaaaaaaa…!
Qn: The national flag should be hoisted first then the others follow, when lowering, it should be last to be lowered. What happens when one of the other flags gets stuck and cannot be lowered.
Make sure it’s lowered through any means possible