Jamhuri Day, one of the most important national holidays in Kenya, observed on December 12. The holiday formally marks the date of the country’s admittance in 1964 into the Commonwealth as a republic and takes its name from the Swahili word jamhuri (“republic”); December 12 is also the date when Kenya obtained its independence from Great Britain in 1963, six months and eleven days after gaining internal self-rule on 1 June 1963 (Madaraka Day) from the United Kingdom. Kenya later became a republic, with the inauguration of Jomo Kenyatta as president taking place on 12 December 1964, exactly one year after Kenya attained independence in 1963. Kenyatta, having previously been sworn in as prime minister, continued as prime minister of newly independent Kenya, before assuming the position of president one year after Independence Day.

Jamhuri Day is occasionally also used by the military to grant infantry battalions their formal Presidential and Regimental Colors. The honored unit upon being conferred the colors proceeds with the Trooping of the Color. In such a ceremony the President as Commander-in-Chief is formally dressed in ceremonial Kenya Army red tunic dress and once the flags are consecrated by an Anglican Bishop, Catholic Bishop and Muslim Kadhi the President formally hands the colors to two flagbearers who receive them when down on one knee.

During Jamhuri day various Orders, decorations, and medals of Kenya are awarded by the President to Kenyans in recognition of their distinguished service to the country. A National Honors and Awards Committee advises the President as to the eligible recipients who are derived from a list of nominees. Individuals are nominated to the Committee by government ministries, district committees, the Kenya Defense Forces, national police service, religious organizations, non-governmental organizations, individuals and others. Some of the recipients largely members of the military, uniformed services who have exhibited exceptional heroism and athletes who have distinguished themselves are publicly awarded their orders, decorations Under British rule since the late 19th century, Kenya officially became a British colony in 1920.

The colonial administration opposed African demands for a greater role in the political process, and it was not until 1944 that an African was included in the colony’s legislature. Disputes over land and cultural traditions continued, however, and the movement against colonial rule grew, culminating in the Mau Mau uprisings in the 1950s, during which the country was plunged into a state of emergency through most of the decade. Africans gained some social and economic concessions as a result of the uprisings, and African political participation increased in the early 1960s. Kenya gained independence on Dec. 12, 1963, and became a republic a year later, with Jomo Kenyatta as its president.