Development of Emblems for Longevity for County Governments in Kenya

Abstract

The emergence of county governments in Kenya has seen the development of emblems for each county. These emblems exhibit the spirit of the counties, however they cannot be said to be successful because they are not well executed, do not adhere to the principles of heraldry and are not registered. A coat of arms, logo or emblem, can fail in its object if its spirit is not shared, when the design elements are not well executed and do not communicate. Heraldry, is a symbolic language used by institutions as an embodiment of their heritage, achievements and aspirations. The design typically has a shield, helmet and crest and may include other things. Once registered, the herald has authority. Countries without heraldic authorities to grant arms, usually invoke copyright laws to protect and coat of arms, emblems and logos that serve similar purpose. In Africa, the Egyptian pharaohs and Adinkra community for example, were identified by symbols that are heraldic. In Kenya, some of the common symbols or imagery that have been applied include animals, vegetation and people. Using a sample of 5 counties this paper analyses the emblem and the extent to which they serve their heraldic and design functions. The paper is mainly qualitative and the findings are presented under specific headings . It is proposed that guidelines or policy be developed to align the county emblems. Key words: Design, Coat of arms, emblems, heraldry, county governments.