National flag hoisted atop Mt Kenya as country turns 50

A team of Kenyans from KWS, Athletics Kenya and other volunteers at Lewis Glacier as they head to the top of Mt Kenya to hoist the Kenyan flag to the mark Kenya@50 celebrations. The flag was hoisted at the stroke of mid-night December 12, 2013. The independence flag was hoisted atop Mt Kenya, 50 years ago at mid-night, December 12, 1963. PHOTO/SIMON GITAU/ KWS.  NATION

In Summary

• The team commissioned by President Kenyatta finally succeeded hoisting the independence flag.
• At the stroke of midnight, December 12, 2013, the flag was hoisted by the team of nine mountaineers who braved harsh weather conditions.
• There was also another party at Point Lenana led by Teddy Kisoi Mutuku, 34, son of the late hero Kisoi Munyao.
• Mutuku and a group consisting of 12 mountain climbers was also accompanied by distinguished British mountaineers who accompanied his late father in hoisting the independence flag on December 12, 1963.

By STELLAR MURUMBA
More by this Author

By EVALYNE GITHINJI
More by this Author

The Kenyan flag has been hoisted on top of Mt Kenya to commemorate 50 years of independence.

Despite harsh weather conditions experienced by mountaineers to get at the peak of Mount Kenya, the team commissioned by President Kenyatta finally succeeded hoisting the independence flag.

The team led by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Corporals Evans Mwiti and James Kagambi spent the night at Batian peak which is at 5,199 metres making it the highest point above sea level in Kenya.

MID-NIGHT

At the stroke of midnight, December 12, 2013, in a colourful event filled with fireworks and ululations, the flag was hoisted by the team of nine mountaineers who braved harsh weather conditions.

According to KWS Senior Warden in-charge of the event Simon Gitau, everything was under control notwithstanding the conditions which he described as worse than the ones experienced in 1963 when the national flag was first hoisted on Mt Kenya.

The 1963 team was led by renowned Kenyan mountaineer Kisoi Munyao, then 25 years old.

Munyao made history by hoisting the country’s independence flag that signalled the end of the colonial rule.

“History has finally repeated itself.

The team showed their patriotism which they crowned by singing the national anthem. This was so smart of them.

They also laid a symbolic torch despite the rains and snow which for us is a blessing from God,” said Mr Gitau.

There was also another party at Point Lenana which is the third highest peak on Mt Kenya at 4,985metres above sea level led by Teddy Kisoi Mutuku, 34, son of the late hero Kisoi Munyao.

INDEPENDENCE FLAG

The young Mutuku and a group consisting of 12 mountain climbers was also accompanied by distinguished British mountaineers who accompanied his late father in hoisting the independence flag on December 12, 1963.

Robert Chambers and Denis Rutovitz, now in their mid-80s, climbed point Nelion in 1963 on the same day the flag was hoisted by the republic’s first president Jomo Kenyatta at Uhuru Gardens Nairobi.

However, due to his old age Mr Rutovitz was Thursday morning unable to cross the Lewis Gracier from Austrian Hut which stands 4,800 metres above sea level and close to point Lenana.

Nevertheless, his two sons Alistair Rutovitz and Neelam Rutovitz together with Mr Chambers made it to Lenana Peak on Tuesday night.

“Denis Rutovitz and Robert Chambers are both over 80 years of age.

They flew all the way from Santiago on Monday to participate in the historic and heroic event as they did 50 years ago.

They have really humbled me,” said Mr Gitau.

“The whole team of mountaineers is expected to grace the celebrations of Kenya at 50 at the Safaricom Stadium, Kasarani,” added Mr Gita

The team comprised Corporal Laban Wanjohi, KWS Rangers Kenneth Kimanthi, Simon Thimuo, Simon Kiguchia, David Muigai and two members closely associated with KWS, John Kiberenge and Nikuji Shah of the Mountain Club of Kenya.