Flag of Kenya

What the flag looks like

Three horizontal stripes of black, red and green separated by narrow white stripes, with a red, white and black Maasai shield and two crossed white spears in the center.

What it means

Black stands for the people, red for the blood shed during the struggle for independence, green for the land, and white for peace; the shield and spears represent the defence of freedom.

How to remember it

Kenya's Maasai shield and crossed spears stand over black-red-green stripes; South Sudan has the stripes but a blue triangle with a star.

Fun facts

• The country takes its name from Mount Kenya, Africa's second-highest mountain at 5,199 m.
• M-Pesa, the mobile-phone money service launched in Kenya in 2007, became a model for mobile banking worldwide.

Kenya at a glance

Capital

Nairobi

Region

Eastern Africa

Population

56 million

Area

580,367 km²

Languages

English, Swahili

Currency

Kenyan shilling (KSh)

Flag adopted

1963

Flags often confused with Kenya

• South Sudan: Kenya and South Sudan share black, red and green stripes separated by thin white lines. Kenya has a shield and spears in the center; South Sudan has a blue triangle with a yellow star at the hoist.
• Malawi: Kenya and Malawi both have black, red and green horizontal stripes. Kenya has thin white stripes and a shield with spears in the center; Malawi has a red rising sun on the top black stripe.