Kenya Army Band

The Kenya Army Band is the primary military musical unit in the Kenya Army and by extension Kenya Defence Forces. The band was founded shortly after Kenya gained its independence from the United Kingdom in 1963 as the successor the Band of King's African Rifles of East Africa formed in 1930 when the British colonized Africa.the first indigenous bandmaster was Yahya Mohamed after being promoted to the rank of WOI he was appointed to head the band of the then Nyasa land its after independence that the band changed its name to Kenya Band, and later to Kenya Army Band. 1968 saw the first African commissioned officer Maj Samson Kisina Nthiwason taking over the leadership of the Band, followed by Lt Col Nicodemus Wasomi when the former retired, and as years went by Col Simon Tipatet became the director followed by Col Martin Macadia. the band was later to grow into two Bands, Kenya army Band A and B respectively. The current Directors of Music are Capt Kelvin Nyaga, Capt J M Muturi, Lt Wycliffe Otanga and Lt Charlene Wamuyu. from independence it was the only band in the Kenya Defence Forces until 1985 when the Kenya Air force band was Formed and later in 1999 the Kenya Navy band. The early bandmasters include WOI Daniel Mutuku and WOI Lucas Kuni. On 11th August 2018 the band was upgraded to a full Unit and handed a Unit Flag at their base in Langata.[1][2] It is ever present at all national celebrations including Madaraka day, Heroes' Day (mashujaa day) (Kenya) and [Jamhuri Day]], All members of the band are aged between 18–26 at the time of enlistment with the band. upon enlistment the new members are sent to the Defence forces school of music (formerly Kenya Army School of Music )for a 44 weeks basic course, and it takes at least 5 years before a musician is considered a principal performer with the band, currently based in Lang'ata Army Barracks having moved from their original station in Nanyuki. Nairobi. The barracks is also home to another of the band's institutions, the Kenya Defence forces School of Music DEFSOM. [3]

The band in 2018.

All members of the band also play their primary role as Infantry Branch, with many having been deployed on various peace keeping missions, Somalia and South Sudan [4] The band wears a distinctive white and black monkey bearskin, which has a pattern based on the one that is used by the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards of the British Army.[5] The SCOTS DG bearskin was originally a gift to the Scots from Tsar Nicholas II of Russia while he was Colonel of the Regiment.[6]