Trooping of colour on Jamhuri Day: Just what is it?

Eyes right!: A Kenya Air Force unit matches during Jamhuri Day Celebration in 2015 at Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi. [File, Standard]

Jamhuri day is always marked with pomp, colour and circumstance. Talking of colour, what is trooping of colour which has just happened at Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi, as Kenya celebrates her 56th Jamhuri Day?

The history of the military ritual is as old as the formation of armies in the 17th Century. The event is significant for every unit in the Kenyan military and it is recorded in the unit's history.

At Kenya's independence, the presidential and regimental colours replaced the colonial Queen's and Regimental Colours.

According to a tweet posted by the military (@kdfinfo) the colours represent the spirit of the regime since bear the battle honours and badges granted to the regime.

The colours are the highest honour for any regiment or unit and are well-guarded and treasured. Losing the colours leads to the disbandment of the regiment or unit. All infantry units and bases are presented with both presidential and regimental colours. 

"It is for this reason that people are asked to stand and salute," adds the KDF Twitter.

Normally a presidential colour is trooped when a unit or base performs in a national ceremony or when the commander-in-chief or a foreign head of state is honoured with a guard of honour."

Both presidential and regimental colours are carried by a commissioned officer and escorted by two armed senior non-commissioned officers.

"The colours should not be confused with the unit or base flags which do not command the same respect."

The Kenya Navy during the 52nd Jamhuri Day celebration in Nairobi. [File, Standard]

There is a strict drill for marching in and out and handling of the presidential colour and regimental colour. The colours are always kept under lock and key and only removed occasionally for ceremonial displays.

During Trooping of the colours, the colours are marched in under escort of the colour party to the edge of the parade, the tweet informs us. It is ceremoniously received by the unit/regimental/base Sergeant Major who hands it over to the colour officers.

The colour officer is of the rank of a Lieutenant and commands the colour party. "After being accorded the national honours, the colours are paraded before the troops. The parade formally receives the colour and then troops the colours before the commander-in-chief in slow and quick time," KDF informs us.

 During trooping, every soldier on parade has a close view of the colour as it passes whilst paying the highest possible honour by presenting arms in salute.

According to the military tradition, the whole ceremony is one of the symbolic trust given to a unit/base.

 This tradition did not start in Kenya but with the Royal family in England. Once The Queen has arrived at Horse Guard's Parade in Whitehall, she is greeted by a Royal salute and carries out an inspection of the troops, who are fully trained and operational soldiers wearing the ceremonial uniform of red tunics and bearskin hats, according to www.royal.uk.