Africa

Flag of Kenya

Kenya is a country in East Africa straddling the equator, renowned worldwide for the Maasai Mara ecosystem and the spectacular annual Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra. Nairobi, the capital, is East Africa's largest city and a major hub for international organisations and multinational companies. Kenya has long dominated international long-distance running, producing world record-holders and Olympic champions across distances from the 800 metres to the marathon.

CapitalNairobi
RegionAfrica
Current flag since1963
Main coloursBlack, Red, Green, White
Populationabout 55 million
Areaabout 580,000 km²
Flags in history3

Population and area are rounded.

What the flag of Kenya means

Black represents the people of Kenya, red the blood shed in the fight for independence, and green the land and its natural wealth; the white stripes stand for peace. The Maasai shield and two spears stand for the defence of freedom. The flag is based on that of the Kenya African National Union and was adopted at independence in 1963.

How to recognise it

Horizontal black-red-green with thin white borders, and a Maasai shield and spears in the centre.

Did you know?

Kenya is home to the Great Rift Valley, one of the most geologically significant places on Earth.

Easily confused with

Kenya's flag is often mixed up with these. Learn to tell them apart:

Ethiopia

Flag history of Kenya

Every flag that has flown over Kenya, from today back through time.

1963–present

Flag of Kenya

Adopted at independence in 1963: black, red, and green bands separated by white fimbriations, with a central Maasai shield and crossed spears symbolizing the defence of freedom.

1895–1963

British East Africa / Kenya Colony

Britain ran the territory as the East Africa Protectorate from 1895 and then Kenya Colony from 1920, flying the Union Jack. The fertile "White Highlands" were reserved for European settlers, fuelling the grievances behind the 1950s Mau Mau uprising, whose brutal suppression hastened the path to independence in 1963.

1858–1923

Witu Sultanate

A small Swahili sultanate on the Kenyan coast that briefly sought German protection before falling to Britain.

Related historical states

Empires, kingdoms and republics that once covered part of Kenya.

1858–1923

Sultanate of Witu

A small Swahili sultanate on the Kenyan coast that played Germany against Britain — it was a German protectorate in the 1880s before passing to Britain, flying a red flag with a white crescent and stars.

1837–1895

Sultanate of Mombasa

Long ruled by the Mazrui dynasty as a rival to Omani Zanzibar, the Swahili port city flew a plain red banner before being absorbed into the British East Africa Protectorate.