1.
GV Kenyatta arrives motorcade
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2.
CU Kenyatta out of car and greeted by Defence Minister James Gichuru and walks to dais
0.24

3.
CU Naval officer
0.29

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SV Chief Khadi of Mombassa blesses the colours. (SOF IN SWAHILI) ZOOM OUT to show new colours draped over drums.
0.53

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SV President leaves dais and presents new colours to Naval Officer
1.18

6.
CU Kenya sailors
1.23

7.
GV Colour is marched past
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SCU Kenyatta watches with Chief of Defence Staff
1.46

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GV Naval ships sail past and fire 21-gun salute.
2.02

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SV President Kenyatta looks on
2.05

11.
GV Ships sail past firing guns.
2.14



Initials OJP/AW/CO



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: President Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya presented the first Presidential Colours (flag) to the Kenyan Navy at a ceremony in Mombassa on Friday (21 August).

The coastal city of Mombassa was crowded with thousands of onlookers as President Kenyatta, who inaugurated the Navy in December 1964, arrives in the official motorcade for the presentation ceremony.

Defence Minister Gichura headed officials who welcomed the President to the parade area. Chief Khadi of Mombassa led the officials, navy, and crowd in a short services of consecration during which the new colours were blessed.

President Kenyatta, who's also Commander in Chief of the Republic Armed Forces, was called forward by the Naval Commander to officially hand over his Colours. The practice of parading ceremonial colours dates back many centuries, to a time when families displayed their coat-of-arms on poles held aloft as they marched into battle. Initially this served as identification, and also as a rallying point when the need arose. Today combatant forces around the world take great pride in this special form of identification. Colours are usually paraded on very special occasions only
Following the presentation of the new Colours to the Kenyan Navy a 21-gun salute was fired, and the naval fleet of patrol craft steamed past the reviewing stand in line-ahead formation. Since its inauguration the Kenyan Navy has rapidly built up its strength. Its three patrol craft which once relied on part-European crews, are now manned entirely by qualified Kenyans from all provinces of the Republic. The Navy's primary peace-time role has been to police Kenya's coastline as a deterrent to smugglers, and operate mercy missions.