Man writes to MPs to delete word 'harambee' from coat of arm

The word 'harambee' was coined by the country’ founding fathers as a clarion call to unity. [Courtesy]

A man has petitioned the National Assembly to remove the word 'Harambee' from Kenya's Coat of Arms, claiming it is a 'bad omen'.

Charles Koinange Mangua claimed he had received a revelation from God that tragedy could befall the country if the word, one of the country's most famous clarion calls, is not removed and replaced with 'Kenya'.

The petitioner claimed that God was not happy with the continued use of the word, and that Parliament should urgently review its usage.

“You shall 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',” states the petition read by Speaker Justin Muturi.

Clarion call

The word 'harambee' was coined by the country’ founding fathers as a clarion call to unity.

However, over the years, there have been numerous calls to expunge the word from the country’s lexicon on the grounds that its origins are suspect.

A number of the country’s landmarks, including Kenya’s national football team, bear the name.

Harambee Avenue hosts major government offices – including the Office of the President, the Treasury, and Attorney General Chambers.

During the writing of the 2010 Constitution, there were spirited efforts by some Kenyans to have the word omitted from the Coat of Arms.

If Parliament follows up on the proposal, it will have to amend the Second Schedule of the Constitution, which lists the Coat of Arms as one of the country's national symbols.

“My humble petition and prayer to the National Assembly is that you all convene urgently to pass the Bill for a constitutional amendment to change the word,” Koinange pleads.