Flag of Kenya


The flag of Kenya is a tricolour of black, red, and green with two white edges imposed with a red, white and black Maasai shield and two crossed spears. The flag is based on that of Kenya African National Union and was officially adopted on 12 December 1963 after Kenya's independence.

History

The Kenyan flag is based on the black over red over green flag of Kenya African National Union, the political party that led the fight for freedom and independence of Kenya. Upon independence, the white fimbriation, symbolising peace and unity, and the shield were added. The meaning of the colours of the flag of Kenya match closely to those of the Pan-African flag adopted by the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League in 1920.
The 2010 revised edition of the Constitution of Kenya includes specifications of the Kenyan flag. Second schedule, Article 9.

Symbolism

The Kenyan flag includes symbols of unity, peace and defense of the country. The colour black represents the people of the Republic of Kenya, red for the blood shed during the fight for independence, and green for the country's landscape and natural wealth. The white fimbriation was added later to symbolize peace and honesty. The black, red, and white traditional Maasai shield and two spears symbolise the defense of all the things mentioned above. Many of both colours and symbolic values are shared with the flag of South Sudan.

Design

The colours of the flag have been specified by the Kenya National Archives.
BlackRedGreen
British Standard Colours—Post office red
0-006		0-10

Variants

Historical Presidential Standards

Defence Forces