Africa · KE / KEN
Flag of Kenya
The Kenya flag is a horizontal tricolor of black, red and green, separated by thin white stripes, with a red Maasai shield and two crossed white spears in the center. It was first raised at independence on 12 December 1963.
What the flag of Kenya looks like
The flag of Kenya has three wide horizontal stripes: black at the top, red in the middle and green at the bottom. Between them are two narrow white stripes, so the red stripe has a white edge on both sides. The ratio is 2:3.
In the center of the flag is a traditional Maasai warrior's shield in red and black, with a white pattern. Two white spears cross behind it. The shield is a vertical oval with pointed ends, and it covers part of all three main stripes and the white edges.
The shield and spears are the main thing that sets Kenya's flag apart from others that use black, red and green, such as Malawi, Libya or Palestine. See the Kenya flag emoji page for a small version, or download an image from the download page.
Kenya flag colors
Color codes measured from the official design. Use HEX for the web and CMYK for print.
HEX
#000000RGB
0, 0, 0CMYK
0, 0, 0, 100HEX
#006600RGB
0, 102, 0CMYK
100, 0, 100, 60HEX
#BB0000RGB
187, 0, 0CMYK
0, 100, 100, 27HEX
#FFFFFFRGB
255, 255, 255CMYK
0, 0, 0, 0Kenya flag meaning and symbolism
The meaning of the colors is well known in Kenya: black stands for the people of Kenya, red for the blood shed in the struggle for independence, and green for the land and its natural wealth. The white edges stand for peace.
The shield and spears are a symbol of the defense of freedom. They are taken from the weapons of the Maasai, a people of Kenya and Tanzania, and they show that the people would protect the independence they had won. Contrary to a common question, there is no firearm on the Kenyan flag: the flag with an AK-47 is Mozambique's, while Kenya shows traditional spears.
The proportions, arrangement and central emblem of the flag are set out in the Second Schedule of the 2010 constitution.
History of the Kenyan flag
Before independence, Kenya was a British colony and protectorate. Earlier flags were British colonial flags, such as the Blue Ensign with the badge of the colony of Kenya.
The independence flag was mainly based on the flag of the Kenya African National Union (KANU), the party that led Kenya to independence under Jomo Kenyatta. KANU's flag, which came from the earlier Kenya African Union flag, used black, red and green. Because of concerns about political neutrality, a committee under Kenyatta produced a compromise design: it kept the KANU tricolor and the Maasai shield with spears, and added the white edges that were associated with the rival party KADU's flag. The result was meant to represent unity rather than a single party.
The flag was officially adopted on 12 December 1963, when Kenya became independent. Kenya became a republic in 1964, and the flag stayed the same. 12 December is now marked as Jamhuri Day.
Interesting facts about the Kenyan flag
- The green, black and red colors link the flag to the Pan-African colors used by many African independence movements.
- The final design of the flag was meant to represent unity and continuity while avoiding affiliation with any single political party.
Kenya flag facts
| Country | Republic of Kenya |
|---|---|
| Flag adopted | December 12, 1963 |
| Proportions | 2:3 |
| Colors | #000000, #006600, #BB0000, #FFFFFF |
| Symbols | spear, shield |
| Flag emoji | 🇰🇪 |
| Country code | KE, KEN (ISO 3166) |
| Capital | Nairobi |
| Continent | Africa |
| Population | 48,468,138 |
| Area | 581,309 km² |
| Currency | Kenyan shilling |
| National anthem | Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu |
Kenya flag: frequently asked questions
What does the Kenyan flag represent?
Black stands for the people of Kenya, red for the blood shed during the fight for independence, green for the land, and white for peace. The shield and two spears stand for the defense of freedom.
What are Kenya's colors?
Kenya's colors are black, red, green and white. Black, red and green are the three main stripes, and white is used as thin fringes and in the shield pattern.
Which flag has the AK-47 symbol?
The flag of Mozambique has an AK-47 rifle on it. The Kenyan flag does not; it shows a traditional shield with two crossed spears.
What is Kenya's old flag?
Before independence in 1963, Kenya used British colonial flags, such as the Blue Ensign with the colony's badge. The current flag has been used since 12 December 1963 and was based on the flag of the KANU party.
Which country has a similar flag to Kenya?
Malawi has black, red and green stripes with a rising sun, and the flag of Palestine also uses black, white, green and red. Kenya's flag is the one with the shield and spears.
Which country did Kenya belong to?
Kenya was a British colony and protectorate before it became independent on 12 December 1963.
What do the shield and spears on the Kenya flag mean?
The red, black and white shield with two crossed spears is a traditional Maasai shield. It symbolizes the country's ongoing will to defend its freedom. It was kept from the earlier party flags and standardized as a national emblem rather than a party symbol when the flag was adopted on 12 December 1963.
Is the Kenyan flag one of the Pan-African flags?
Its black, red and green colors are often linked to Pan-African influences and resemble the Pan-African flag adopted in 1920. Kenya's version adds white fringes and the Maasai shield with spears, which set it apart from other flags that use the same colors.
