Files that were left behind by the British government reveal the intrigues that took place as Kenya was preparing to celebrate its independence on December 12, 1963.
The documents which are now under the custody of Kenya National Archives, paint Britain as a proud country that did not want Kenyans to witness the lowering of its flag which was called The Union Jack.
As such Britain, conspired to cause a blackout at midnight while its flag was being lowered and switched the lights back on when Kenya's flag was being hoisted.
The plan started when the colonial authorities failed to convince Jomo Kenyatta who had been appointed Prime Minister, not to include the lowering of Britain's flag in the celebrations.
In a letter dated November 9, 1963, then Governor Malcolm MacDonald told the British government that "I spoke to Kenyatta a couple of times before the Cabinet meeting two days ago about the flag ceremony at midnight on December 11/12.
"You will remember that in my letter of August 17 to you, I reported an earlier talk in which I urged on him that the Union Jack should not be raised again after its normal lowering at sunset on December 11 and that the only flag ceremony at midnight should be the raising of the new Kenyan flag.
“Kenyatta told me that when he discussed this matter with a few of his principal colleagues after our August talk, he found that two or three of them felt he must lay the matter before the Cabinet so that the colleagues would feel that they had been properly consulted.”
Unfortunately for Britain, Kenyatta's Cabinet was convinced that if the lowering of the foreign flag was omitted, it would take away the spiritual significance of the independence celebration.
It was then that the governor sidelined Kenyatta in the celebration plans and started plotting with Director of Celebrations, Horner and the government in London.
On November 15, Governor MacDonald called Horner and gave him instruction on what to do on the night the celebration was supposed to take place.
The event director's notes which are also available at the National archives read "HE the Governor telephoned this morning to say that it had been suggested from London that when the flag raising ceremony is taking place, the Union Jack should not be lowered slowly but that the lights should go out and at the same time the new Kenyan flag should be illuminated as it rises to the head of staff.”
Neither Kenyatta nor Kenyans who attended the historic event ever got to know about the intentional blackout.
Watch a video of the lights go off and on during the celebration.
