Charles Mangua from Limuru, Kiambu, has filed a petition that seeks to have the word 'Harambee' inscribed on the Coat of Arms replaced with 'Kenya'.
The petitioner claims his move followed a revelation from God to do so and therefore made his appeal to the National Assembly.
“I shall not be held responsible for the lives of the people of Kenya by God concerning that matter of the word appearing on the Coat of Arms," he remarked.
He then goes ahead to warn that should calamity strike the nation, all Kenyans will be responsible.
" You shall all be held responsible collectively and individually before God concerning the matter of the word on the Coat of Arms, which should be reading the name ‘Kenya’,” announced Mangua as quoted by Nation.
‘Harambee’ is a Swahili word that was coined by the nation's founding father Mzee Jomo Kenyatta to essentially mean "pulling together in unity" or "all Kenyans for one".
National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi directed the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee, chaired by Baringo North MP William Cheptumo, to consider the petition and report to the House within the mandatory 60 days.
Mangua’s proposal draws from the preamble of the Constitution, which acknowledges “the Sovereign God over the people of Kenya is the creator of the Universe”.
The Coat of Arms of Kenya features two lions, a symbol of protection, holding spears and a traditional shield.
The shield and spears symbolize unity and defence of freedom. The shield contains the national colours, representing; Black for the people of Kenya, red for the struggle for freedom, green for the agriculture and natural resources and white for unity and peace.
It then finishes up with a scroll inscribed "Harambee" for unity which the petitioner wants changed.
