Last modified: 2022-10-22 by bruce berry
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Two flags were used by the Kenya-Uganda Railways and Harbours Authority : a
defaced Blue Ensign for use at sea, and a plain blue flag with the badge
centrally positioned upon it for land-use.
Martin Grieve, 01 May 2003
On 03 December 1936 the Office of the High Commissioner for Transport,
at Government House, Nairobi wrote to the Colonial Office requesting a
Blue Ensign, defaced with the badge of the Administration, for its harbour
craft, lake steamers and headquarters in Nairobi. Normally a Public Office in a colony would have used a Blue Ensign
defaced with the badge of the colony. In this case however, under
Orders in Council of 16 December 1925, 20 December 1927 and 13 August 1935,
the working and management of the Kenya and Uganda Railway and Harbours
Administration was vested in a High Commission for Transport, a 'Corporation
Sole', consisting of officers administering the Governments of Kenya and
Uganda acting jointly. Existing regulations did not cover two colonies
having a joint administration; the vessels could not fly the Kenya Blue
Ensign nor the Uganda Blue Ensign.
After consulting the Admiralty the Colonial Office
wrote to Nairobi (08 March 1937) that the badge on a Blue Ensign had been approved by the
King for use on lake-steamers, harbour launches and the Administration
Building in Mombassa. It was not approved for the headquarters in
Nairobi where the badge should be set on a plain blue flag. "Port
Authority" might be written on the ensign flown ashore in Mombassa.
An amendment plate, 20a, headed 'East Africa', was produced for the
Colonial Office book 'Flags, Badges and Arms'. It included
the note; 'No white circle. On Blue Ensign as shown'.
[National Archives (PRO) CO 323/1377/4.]
The badge was used until February 1949 when the Administration was also
made responsible for the railways and harbours in Tanganyika and its name
changed to East African Railways and Harbours Administration. A new
badge which combined the badges of Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika was adopted.
David Prothero, 02 May 2003