Re: [ukenya] Should Ordinary Kenyans Be Allowed To Hang The National Flags In Their Homes

[Sophie Ngugi]

I am wondering what a flag means, if it means patriotism why not? I am in South Sudan and I saw a Sudanese wearing a Kenyan Tshirt with flag and harambee stars and I felt like asking him to give me the Tshirt. So my thoughts even before I saw this post was hmmmm what Kenyan thing can I have? A flag comes in as basic, its about being proud of being Kenyan and something that symbolises this. I think sometimes we are so eager on showing how 'different' we are to want to reserve some 'privileges' to a few 'privileged' and then we wonder why we dont feel 'Kenyan'. I may not want to fly a flag in my car but every Tom, Dick and Wanjiku should be able to access a flag easily. 

My 2 cents,

Wanjiku.

Sophie Ngugi

Skype: sophie.ngugi

Blog: www.sophiengugi.blogspot.com 

"If Rosa Parks had taken a poll before she sat down in the bus in Montgomery, she'd still be standing."- Mary Frances Berry

"A nation is not conquered until the hearts of its women are on the ground. Then it is finished no matter how brave its warriors or how strong their weapons." (Tsistsistas, Cheyenne)

On Thu, Aug 15, 2013 at 4:24 PM, Ukenya <wambugu...@gmail.com> wrote:

Friends,

Welcome to the first of a series of discussions we will have on this platform, around the idea of 'Ukenya' ... 'Kenyanness'. Now, there is a discussion going on about whether Kenyans can have the Kenyan flag flying from their homes; and there is even a bill in parliament on the same. One view is that Kenyans should be allowed to fly their flags wherever they want, except maybe on their cars which should be limited to authorized government officials. Another view is that access to the flag by every Dick & Harry could lead to our flag being abused. However as we search for 'Ukenya' we think want to consider that making it possible for Kenyans to have easy access to the flag is a plus; as it is one national emblem we can all associate with as Kenyans; beyond our other identities.

Your thoughts? (We have MPs on this platform who could benefit from our views as they prepare to discuss the bill when they resume)

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Lets engage on what it means to say 'I Am Kenyan' ... today
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[Stella Kiguta - Ng'ang'a]

Couldn't agree more.

Symbols of National Unity. e.g. Anthem, Flag should always be within arms reach of desire (as we say where I work)

Citizens treat the flag and anthem with utmost respect and recognition. I don't believe that making them the preserve of a few fosters the unity we so desperately need.

I'd cite the U.S. as an example of a nation whose citizens proudly adorn the red, white and blue on any imaginable piece of merchandise you can think of.


Stella Kiguta - Ng'ang'a
Public Affairs & Communications Manager
Coca-Cola Central, East & West Africa
+254 20 3253 459

«sent from a handheld device»

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[matheng...@gmail.com]

I have a flag in my living room...

Sent from my BlackBerry®

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From: Stella Kiguta - Ng'ang'a <sng...@coca-cola.com>

Sender: uke...@googlegroups.com

Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2013 15:29:52 +0000

To: uke...@googlegroups.com<uke...@googlegroups.com>

ReplyTo: uke...@googlegroups.com

[Edwin Kiama]

Hi all,

That we are having a debate of who should or should not fly the KENYAN flag is instructive in itself. Some people it would seen seem feel more Kenyan than others. A colonial hang-up. 

The current Ministers are flying the flag after being appointed by the president a few months ago...doe that make them special individually all of a sudden, or is it the office that makes them special? Is the guy who cleans the minister's office any less special as a Kenyan that s/he should be jailed for flying OUR flag ontheir Black Mamba bicycle (figuratively) or is national pride the reserve of a few 'Wenye Nchi'?

No answers, just questions.

regards,

Edwin Kiama

Thoughts become things... choose the good ones!

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[Stella Kiguta - Ng'ang'a]

I have the flag with me too...as a dress :-)

Stella Kiguta - Ng'ang'a
Public Affairs & Communications Manager
Coca-Cola Central, East & West Africa
+254 20 3253 459

«sent from a handheld device»

[Sakaja Johnson]

I fly the flag on my wrist 247. Lets get every Kenyan to don that. ask yourself, critically, why is it a preserve of Ministers to fly flags? Are they more Kenyan than the rest? (It makes sense for ambassadors in a foreign country) or is it to identify them easily for ease of preferential treatment in traffic? (For which we can give them diff plates, or a long pole to put on their bonnets). Every Kenyan should hold a similar claim to the flag. 

Good day guys. 

Sent from my iPhone

[caesar.asiyo]

MY country. MY flag.
Every Kenyan who wishes to fly the Kenyan flag should fly it.
Anywhere, everywhere.
On the car, in the house, in the office, in the village etc.
MY flag is not the preserve of a politician or senior civil servant.
What is it that gives these guys exclusivity over the use of the flag ?
The president like any other Kenyan, can fly the flag on his car etc, but it can not be exclusive.
He has a Presidential Standard which is exclusive.
Governors should create county flags - they can fly these in addition to the Kenyan flag.
(Actually each county should have a flag, motto, symbol, anthem .... I.e an identity - that's a story for another day)
I do concede however that very strict & punitive guidelines must be legislated on HOW to fly the flag.
For example,
- the flag must be kept clean, & in a decent state
- It should not be flown after 6:00pm
- etc
Actually the debate should be about these guidelines, NOT weather or not I can fly MY flag.

[Carole Kariuki]

I agree with Sakaja.

Regards

Carole Kariuki, HSC, MBS

Chief Executive Officer
Kenya Private Sector Alliance | 5th Floor, Shelter Afrique Building, Mamlaka Rd
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