President Uhuru Kenyatta has today presided over his last Trooping of Colour ceremony by the military at the newly built Ulinzi Sports Complex in Lang’ata.
During the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) consecration, presentation and Trooping of Colours by the 21 Battalion of the Kenya Rifles, Kenyatta noted that the military unit will relocate from Mariakani to Manda Bay in Lamu county where it will partner with the Kenya Navy and the multi-agency team operating in the area to safeguard Kenya’s maritime border and ensure the safety of residents.
“Together with the Kenya Navy Base Manda, the Unit will establish a permanent presence in Boni Forest from where it will secure the border areas and support Manda Base in executing Maritime defense within an already existing Multi Agency framework. The Unit will also support in providing security to the population in Lamu county,” he said.
The President stated that the awarding of colours to all three battalions that comprise the Kenya Army’s 6th Brigade during his tenure is a critical milestone in enabling the KDF to perform its duty of defending and maintaining Kenya’s territorial integrity.
He emphasized that the parade of colours is intended to honour not only national values but also the KDF’s track record of faithfully carrying out its mandate.
“It is also a celebration of our national values, the sacred call to serve with honour that typifies KDF, our military’s immaculate track record of discharging its duties faithfully and courageously; and, above all, it is a celebration of our country and our flag,” he said.
Officials state that losing the colors results in the disbandment of the regiment or unit. The presidential and regimental colours are displayed on all army units and bases.
When a unit or base performs in a national ceremonial or when the commander-in-chief or a foreign head of state is honoured with a guard of honour, the presidential colours normally troop.
A commissioned officer carries the presidential and regimental colours, who are escorted by two armed senior non-commissioned officers.
The regimental colour is awarded to a unit or base at the same time as the presidential colour, and it is shown anytime the unit or base performs a ceremony for general officers who are given half-guard parades during visits.
Trooping of the Colour evolved from an old guard mounting ceremonial in which the queen’s colour was shown as a sign of the state’s sovereignty, while the regimental colour was the badge of the troops of the regiments.