Dec 12, 2019
Kenya Independence Day 2019
This Doodle’s Key Themes
“Freedom! The most glorious blessing of mankind,” proclaimed Kenya’s first Prime Minister and later President, Jomo Kenyatta, to a cheering crowd in the capital city of Nairobi on this day in 1963, which marked the beginning of the country’s sovereignty.
Today’s Doodle celebrates Kenya’s Independence Day, commemorating the day the East African nation declared independence from Great Britain, as well as its official admittance into the Commonwealth as a republic exactly one year later.
Renowned for its rich cultural heritage, vast wildlife preserves, and abundant natural beauty, Kenya is home to a large stretch of the Great Rift Valley, which is among the earliest sites of the human archaeological record and the motherland of the nomadic pastoralist tribe of the Maasai. An essential element of the nation’s identity, the Maasai’s distinctive shield and spears are featured in the center of the tricolor Kenyan flag.
Also known as Jamhuri Day—jamhuri being the Swahili word for “republic”—today is considered one of Kenya’s most treasured national holidays. Many proud Kenyans worldwide observe this momentous day with festive parades and feasts perhaps including classic local dishes such as ugali and mukimo.
Hongera, Kenya! Happy Independence Day!
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