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image by Jens Pattke, 24 Jan 2015
Vihiga County is a county in the former Western Province of
Kenya. The county was split from Kakamega
County in 1990.
Jaume Ollé, 22 Jan 2015
The Vihiga County Government has published a bill relating to symbols for the county, including a flag. The details of the bill are as follows:
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
VIHIGA COUNTY GOVERNMENT
THE VIHIGA COUNTY SYMBOLS BILL, 2014
An Act of the County Assembly to give effect to Section 4 of the County
Governments Act (Act No. 17 of 2012) and for the development and use
of the County flag, county coat of arms, county public seal and other symbols of
the county government, to prevent the improper use of the county symbols and for
connected purposes.
ENACTED by the County Assembly of Vihiga as follows:-
PART 1 PRELIMINARY
1. Short title
This Act be cited as the Vihiga County Symbols Act, 2014 and shall come into
operation on the fourteenth day after the publication in the Gazette or assent
by the Governor whichever comes earlier.
2. Application
This Act shall apply to Vihiga County as provided in Article 6(1) of the
Constitution, and the First Schedule to the Constitution.
3. In this Act-
Act No. 17 of 2012
“ the County flag” means the type of county symbol developed under the authority
of the County Executive through the consultative process provided for under
Section 4 (1) (a) of the County Governments Act. Act No. 17 of 2012.
“ the County Coat of Arms” means the type of county symbol developed under the
authority of the County Executive through the consultative process provided for
under Section 4(1)(b) of the County Governments Act. Act No. 17 of 2012
“ the County Public Seal” means the type of county symbol developed under the
authority of the County Executive through the consultative process provided for
under section 4(1) (c) of the County Governments Act.
“ the County Portrait” means the photograph, drawing, painting or other
pictorial representation of the person for the time being holding the office or
dignity specified on this Act.
“the County Symbol” means any image, object, mark, sign emblem, pennant,
insignia or ensign developed under the authority of the County Executive and
shall include flag, County coat of arms, county public seal and county portrait.
County Flag, Coat of Arms, Public Seal and portrait
“the County Executive” means the County Executive Committee of the County
government established in accordance with section of the County Governments Act
4. (1) The flag of which the design and description are set out in PART I of the
Schedule to this Act is hereby declared to be the county Flag of Vihiga County
(2). The heraldic device of which the blazon and description are set out in PART
II of the Schedule to this Act is hereby declared to be the county Coat – of
-Arms of Vihiga County
(3) The seal of which the design is set out in PART III of the schedule to this
Act is hereby declared to be the county Public Seal of Vihiga County.
(4) The portrait of the person holding the office or dignity specified in PART
IV of the schedule to this Act other than in an acting capacity is hereby
declared to be the county portrait of Vihiga County.
Authority to develop the County Symbols and the process
5. (1) The authority to develop the county symbols shall vest in the County
Executive.
(2) County symbols shall be developed with the citizen participation through a
consultative process.
(3) The County Executive shall cause to be published in a daily of national
circulation and in any other manner, notice inviting citizen participation, at
least thirty days prior to the date set for the sampling of the county Symbols.
(4) Samples of the county symbols developed with the citizens participation
shall be submitted to the panel appointed for the purpose within the period
specified in the notice.
(5) If at the close of the period specified in the notice under this section, no
submissions are received or those received are not of the specified standard and
quality, the County Executive may:-
a) invite fresh submissions for the second and third time by way of notice
issued in similar manner and where such other notice or notices fail to result
in the required samples.
b) No. 3 of 2005 use the service of an expert secured in accordance with the
provisions of the Public Procurement and Disposal Act or the relevant
procurement legislation to develop the county symbols.
(6) The panel shall analyze the samples submitted pursuant to this section and
select from the list the best three samples from each category of symbols in the
order merit and submit to the County Executive.
(7) All samples submitted by any person for selection as county symbol shall, on
being submitted, become the sole property of the county government.
(8) The County Executive may select the county symbols from the list submitted
by the panel in accordance with this section.
(9) The County Executive may, in its sole discretion give a reward or monetary
appreciation to any person or body for the winning samples of the county symbols
submitted pursuant to this Act.
10) Any dispute arising from the development of the county symbols under the
this Act shall be resolved by the County Executive whose decision shall be
final.
Establishment of the panel and its responsibilities
6. (1) There is established a panel to be called Vihiga County Symbols Selection
Panel.
(2) The panel shall comprise of a chairperson appointed by the County Governor
or a person authorized in writing by the Governor and not less than five and not
more than ten members appointed by the relevant County Executive Committee
member from at least every constituency in Vihiga County.
(3) Not more than one third of the members of the Panel shall be of the same
gender and at least one person shall be a person living with disability.
(4) The relevant County Executive Committee member shall appoint a person who is
a youth to be the secretary to the panel.
(5) Members of the panel shall hold office for three years and may be eligible
for re-appointment to one similar term.
(6) The quorum at every meeting of the panel shall be atleast one half of all
the members.
(7) The resolution of the Panel shall be by simple majority.
(8) The responsibilities of the Panel shall be-
a) to set the standards and quality of the samples to be submitted for selection
as county symbols.
b) to receive, analyse and select the symbols for the consideration of the
County Executive .
c) to ensure, on behalf of the County Executive, compliance with this Act
with regard to the use of the county symbols.
(9) save as herein provided, the panel shall regulate its own affairs.
(10) The panel members shall be paid such allowances as. may be determined by
the County Executive in consultation with the County Public Service Board
7. Prohibition against misuse of county symbols and offences
(1) The County Executive shall be the custodian of all symbols of the county and
shall prescribe the fee at which the county symbols other than the County Public
Seal may be made available for the use of the public.
(2) County Symbols shall not be used except with the permission of the County
Executive and in a manner authorized by this Act or any other law.
(3) Any person who shows disrespect, in speech, manner or writing, to or with
reference to any symbol of the county shall be guilty of an offence.
(4) No person shall, except with the written Permission of the County Executive.
a) Use any symbol of the county or any imitation thereof in furtherance of, or
display the same as an advertisement for, any trade, business, calling or
profession.
b) Use any symbol of the county or imitation thereof, in the title of any
patent, or in any trade mark or design.
c) Manufacture or import any article or goods bearing any symbol of the county
or any title, trade mark or design is used is used in contravention of this Act.
(5) A publication of a bona fide news item whether in a news paper of any
article connected with any bona fide news item other than a news item in the
furtherance of, or as advertisement for, any trade, business , calling or
profession shall, under this section, be lawfull.
(6) No authority shall register any company, firm or other body of persons or
any trade mark or design or grant a patent where such registration or grant of
patent would violate the provisions of this Act.
(7) Any registration made or patent granted in violation of this Act shall be
null and void.
(8) No person shall display at any place or on any premises or permit to be so
displayed any item or imitation which was not developed as a symbol of the
county in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
(9) The County Executive shall, by notice, specify the places at which and the
manner by which the county symbols shall be used or displayed.
(10) The fee payable for the use of a county symbol shall be that
provide in PART V of the Schedule to this Act.
8. Power of seizure
A police officer or an officer of the county government duly authorized in
writing by the County Executive, may, upon obtaining a search warrant from the
court ,enter any premise where he or she reasonably believes something which has
been used, displayed, manufactured or imported contrary to this Act is kept and
seize the same and where he does so, shall bring it before the magistrate who
issued the search warrant, for order of its disposal.
9. Offences and penalties under the Act
Any person who violates any provision of this Act shall be guilty of an offence
and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding fifty thousand shillings or to
imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months or to both such fine and
such imprisonment.
10. Power to and regulations
The County Executive may make regulations generally for carrying this Act into
effect and may by notice amend the schedule to this Act.
SCHEDULE
PART I – THE COUNTY FLAG
Design :
Key:
Description:
Vihiga is an exceptional region with captivating and contrasting geographical
features from the tropical forest of Kaimosi to the stony hills of Maragoli and
Bunyore. Borrowing from tradition, its culture, including its periodic
circumcision rituals, the County is not only a haven for the curious visitor who
wishes to appreciate the past and even relive it. The proximity to Kisumu County
and its resultant benefits cannot be gainsaid, as the Lake Victoria hub that is
expected to service the EAC. The County's diaspora whether foreign or local must
be kept alive to these efforts.
|
The colours of the flag carry the following meanings: |
|
|
GREEN |
The environment we thrive in and our natural resources both tapped and untapped |
|
BROWN |
The land that feeds us and dwell on, inherited from our ancestors |
|
YELLOW |
There is light and the willingness of the Vihiga County residents to participate and take major initiatives to upgrade their very own living conditions |
|
WHITE |
To denote the peace that exists in the county |
PART II - THE COUNTY COAT OF ARMS
Vihiga is a unique region with captivating and contrasting geographical features from the tropical forest of Kaimosi to the rocky hills of Maragoli and Bunyore. Borrowing from tradition, its culture, including its periodic circumcision rituals, the County is not only a haven for the curious visitor who wishes to appreciate the past and even relive it. The proximity to Kisumu County and its resultant benefits cannot be gainsaid, as the Lake Victoria hub that is expected to service the EAC. The County's diaspora whether foreign or local must be kept alive to these efforts.
vihig.gif)
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The colours & images depicted have the following meanings: |
|
|
Blue: |
We have plenty of springs therefore water is not a problem as such |
|
Food crops: |
We are an agricultural community and this is our backbone mainly with tea, maize, bananas etc.
|
|
Cash crops: |
|
|
Animal: |
It is our culture to own livestock like chickens etc. |
|
The Sun: |
There is light and the willingness of the Vihiga County residents to participate and take major initiatives to upgrade their very own living conditions. |
|
Mask: |
Depicts our culture. |
|
The Doves: |
Our strength derived from a peaceful take off and hope a prosperous future. |
|
Light green: |
A freshness of the environment meaning unpolluted |
|
Dark green: |
Our forests |
|
The three stones |
The name Vihiga was derived from the three stones which resembles the cooking stones(Mahiga) at the Vihiga Friends Church. A historical site. |
Keeping in view the need for the investment in the region we put in the sun to depict there is light and the willingness of the Vihiga county residents to participate and take major initiatives to upgrade the living conditions of Vihigans, to boost economic growth in the region. The sun continues to depict that we can and will manage both opportunity and challenges and emerge as a regional hub in the areas of service industry, education, health, information technology, food, tea/coffee and vegetable processing etc. Vihiga’s economy is bound to change in character as the knowledge revolution sweeps the country".
The bill continues with a description
of the county seal, regulations and prohibitions on the use of the symbols etc.
Jaume Ollé, 22 Jan 2015
Vihi1.gif)
images by Jens Pattke, 11 April 2015
According to a report on news24 Kenya, the County Governor indicated that two flags will be flown in Vihiga County as he unveiled a flag containing the shield in the fly as shown above. This flag is also shown and reported on the County's Facebook page on 24 February 2015 with the following report:
"Vihiga county governor Moses Akaranga has launched county symbols which include flag, court of arms and the seal.