congobrown Posted November 9, 2011 Posted November 9, 2011 In an auction in 2008,I was able to buy this strange medal from Kenya,but I have not a real accurate information about this medal.And I never saw it on the breast of a kenyan officer. It's a large medal 45 millimeters in diameter with on its obverse side the sun rising from the back of the Mount Kenya and near the rim a chain broken-up by the date 1963. Of course the chain symbolise colonialism and 1963 is the date of Independence. On the reverse the letters U.C.M. U for Uhuru I guess. This medal was also manufactured by Drechsler from Munchen in the late 70ies. If anyone has more ACCURATE information he's most welcome.But please don't write that you don't know,it's senseless. Emmanuel Emmanuel, I have given copies of the photos of this medal to my Kenyan Army liaison officer and asked him to find out what it is. He didn't recognise the meadal but his first guess was that it might be linked to Kisoi Munyao's ascent of Mount Kenya in 1963 when he raised the newly independent Kenya’s National flag on the summit. He made a couple of phone calls to get some concrete information on the medal but came up blank. He has taken the photos away for checking elsewhere. Fingers crossed for some real information at a later date. I'll also run the images by some older Kenyan ex-military. I'll keep you informed.
congobrown Posted November 9, 2011 Posted November 9, 2011 Here you can see a very good and detailed picture we would like to see more often from General. You can see General Jeremiah Kianga E.G.H.,C.B.S.(Kenya Army Chief of Staff ) with all his commemorative medal.Almost all that I have posted picture above (except one).....the one with purple ribbon (2nd from right). As the last from right is for 20 th Anniversary of President Arap Moi as President of Kenya,I guess the one with purple ribbon is for his 15th Anniversary at the Presidency of Kenya. I remember having seen this medal in dealer list,but if someone own this medal,he's welcome to post it. the beautiful breast star General Kianga is wearing is the Breast star of Chief Burning Spear (the 2nd highest Kenya Order). I will do a post on this Order in a few minutes. Emmanuel Emmanuel, I have a copy of the medal with the purple ribbon in a group of 5. It is in fact the commemorative medal for the 25th anniversary of independence. On the reverse is the Kenyan coat of arms and the teaxt "MIAKA ISHIRINI NA TANO YA UHURU" then "AMANI" on the left of the coat of arms and "UFANSI" on the right with the date "12 DEC 63 - 12 DEC 88" underneath. Of course I am making the assumption that the medal is mounted on the right ribbon! I'll try to find the right technology to enable me to post a photo - not always readily available where I am. Tim
oamotme Posted November 11, 2011 Posted November 11, 2011 Tim, Good to read that you are now tracking Kenyan awards - hopefully with you being on the ground you will be able to enlighten us further on such awards and fill in some of the gaps. With the current Kenyan Army forays into Somalia there may be a new medal issued? Regards, Owain
Elvis Posted November 12, 2011 Posted November 12, 2011 Hello Emmanuel, I like your medals - they are very nice. Elvis
congobrown Posted November 3, 2012 Posted November 3, 2012 This time last year I said that I would post an image of this group. Here is the obverse.
congobrown Posted November 3, 2012 Posted November 3, 2012 And the reverse of the same group. I got them from an individual at the Kenyan School of Combat Engineering at Archer's Post and paid the princely sum of KSh3,000 or $35.
ozmedals Posted May 4, 2020 Posted May 4, 2020 does anyone have a photo of the original Kenya Independence medal, from 1963. Anyone know where I can get one ?
peter monahan Posted May 4, 2020 Posted May 4, 2020 3 hours ago, ozmedals said: does anyone have a photo of the original Kenya Independence medal, from 1963. Anyone know where I can get one ? Megan?
ozmedals Posted August 23, 2020 Posted August 23, 2020 apparently there was NO independence medal issued. A preliminary medal design was instead used to reward soldiers who fought the border insurgents around the time of independence
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