The Kenyan flag was officially adopted on December 12, 1963, after the country gained independence from Britain.
The flag features a horizontal tricolor of black, red and green, separated by thin white stripes.
The colors symbolize the indigenous people of Kenya, the blood shed during the struggle for independence, the fertility of the land and peace and unity.
In the center of the flag is a Maasai shield and two crossed spears, which represent the defense of the nation.
The flag was designed by a committee set up by Jomo Kenyatta to combine elements from the flags of KANU and the Kenya African Democratic Union (KADU).
However, 60 years down the line, there are laws that prohibit Kenyans from displaying or flying flags despite it being regarded as a symbol of unity.
There is a law put in place to limit Kenyans from hanging the flag inside their house or flying it within their residences.
The National Flag, Emblems and Names (Flying of the National Flag and Displaying of Armorial Ensigns) Regulations states;
“Any person who flies or displays the National Flag on any premises, not being Government premises, on any occasion other than a public holiday or such other occasion as may be notified by the President shall be guilty of an offence.”
In this case, Government premises means a building used wholly or partly for Government purposes, but not buildings used for residential purposes.
On the other hand, the flag can be flown of vehicles for President, the Vice-President, the Chief Justice, the Speaker of the National Assembly, a Cabinet Secretary or the Attorney-General.
Any person who flies the flag on their vehicle will be found guilty of an offence, attracting a Ksh 1 million fine or a jail term of five years or both.
For instance, in 2014, Governors tried to fly the flags on their vehicles but they were met with full fire from Parliament and the Office of the Attorney General.
