Kenya Flag

How to identify it

Black, red and green horizontal bands separated by thin white stripes. A Maasai shield in red, white and black sits over two crossed white spears in the centre, spanning all three main bands.

Design and construction

Adoption and legal status

Adopted on 12 December 1963, when Kenya became independent.

Officially documented meaning

Black represents the people of Kenya, red the struggle for independence, green the land, and the narrow white bands peace. The shield and crossed spears signify defence of freedom.

History of the design

The design developed from the Kenya African National Union flag. White separators and the central shield and spears were added for the national flag.

Similar flags

Compare the details that separate these designs.

• 
  Malawi

  Malawi has a red rising sun on its black top band instead of Kenya's central shield and crossed spears, and it has no thin white separators.

• 
  South Sudan

  South Sudan has a blue triangle at the flagpole side with a yellow star; Kenya instead centres a shield and crossed spears.

Sources