The presidential flag: How Kibaki’s was different from Kenyatta’s, Moi’s and Uhuru’s

The presidential standard or presidential flag is the flag that is used in many countries as a symbol of the head of state or president. In some countries, it may be for exclusive use of the president or only raised where the president is present.

In Kenya, the Presidential Standard is designed by the President-elect. It symbolises power and represents the Commander-in-Chief.

Kibaki’s Presidential Standard was white, adorned with a shield in the centre bearing the Kenya national colours between two olive branches which signify peace.

The table on which President Kibaki’s body is placed is draped in white linen and pillow to ‘match’ the (colour of) Presidential Standard.

The gun carriage, for example, had two flagpoles, on the right and left.

On the left of the car is the Kenyan flag while on the right car is the late President Mwai Kibaki’s Presidential Standard.

During President Moi’s funeral, the table was covered in a green cloth since his Presidential Standard was green in colour with a shield in the middle and a cockerel next to it.

When President Uhuru Kenyatta took over in April 2013, he adopted the one similar to that used by his father, the founding President Jomo Kenyatta. It has a dark blue field with a version of the national shield in the centre, crossed by two large spears and a white dove on the right side.