Kenya (1963–1964)

Kenya
1963–1964
Motto: "Harambee" (Swahili)
"Let us all pull together"
Anthem: Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu
English: "O God of All Creation"
Location of Kenya
CapitalNairobi
Common languagesEnglish
Swahili
GovernmentConstitutional monarchy
Queen 
• 1963–1964
Elizabeth II
Governor-General 
• 1963–1964
Malcolm MacDonald
Prime Minister 
• 1963–1964
Jomo Kenyatta
LegislatureNational Assembly
• Upper House
Senate
• Lower House
House of Representatives
Historical eraCold War
• Independence
12 December 1963
• Republic
12 December 1964
CurrencyEast African shilling
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Kenya Colony
Kenya

The Commonwealth realm[1] of Kenya was a short-lived sovereign state between 12 December 1963 and 12 December 1964 whose head of state was Queen Elizabeth II. It was a predecessor to the Republic of Kenya.

When British Kenya became independent on 12 December 1963, Elizabeth II remained head of state as Queen of Kenya (and of the United Kingdom and many former colonies). The monarch's constitutional roles were mostly delegated to the Governor-General of Kenya, Malcolm John Macdonald.[2]

Jomo Kenyatta held office as prime minister (and head of government). Elizabeth II had visited Kenya on 6 February 1952, before independence, and later visited the Republic of Kenya several times.

The Republic of Kenya came into existence on 12 December 1964, while remaining in the Commonwealth by common consent of other governments. Following the abolition of the monarchy, Jomo Kenyatta became the first President of the Republic of Kenya.[2]

References

  1. ^ Mara Malagodi, Luke McDonagh and Thomas Poole. "The Dominion model of transitional constitutionalism." International Journal of Constitutional Law. 17:4 (October 2019) p. 1284 n 7. doi:10.1093/icon/moz083
  2. ^ a b "Kenya Republic Bill (1965)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Commons. 1 February 1965. Retrieved 26 January 2017.

Further reading