President William Ruto’s visit to China has hit a snag following a glaring protocol error that left many Kenyans questioning the competency of his team. On the second day of his trip to the world’s second-largest economy, Ruto’s digital team shared several photos of the President alongside Jin Liqun, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and other officials.
However, sharp-eyed Kenyans quickly noticed a significant mistake in the photos: the Kenyan flag had been displayed upside down. The flag, which should have black at the top and green at the bottom, was incorrectly positioned with green on top.
This national embarrassment, coming at a time when Kenya is keen on strengthening international relations, sparked widespread criticism. Many Kenyans expressed disappointment, viewing the error as a sign of potential misfortune and questioning the attention to detail of the President’s handlers.
Veteran journalist Ali Manzu was among the first to spot the mistake, tweeting, “Mr. President @WilliamsRuto, our flag is upside down. Kindly check next time, this is the second time this has happened…” Others responding to Manzu’s tweet corrected him, pointing out that this was actually the third occurrence of such a blunder.
“No, it’s three times now. And despite the constant corrections, they still never seem to care,” someone commented.
Journalist Mwangi Maina also added his two cents, wondering what, exactly, was the role of protocol during such high-level trips.
He said; “The Kenyan flag is a powerful symbol of patriotism and national pride. It should never be displayed upside down under any circumstances. However, there have been notable lapses in flag protocol during important international events.”
“This occurred in Djibouti during the IGAD summit with President Ruto present. It happened again in Kampala on the sidelines of the NAM summit with Mudavadi in attendance. And now, it has occurred yet again in China during a presidential meeting.”
He added, “What exactly is the protocol team doing during these trips? Are we sending a message of distress?”
Agreeing with him, Grace Kitheka said, “Maybe this is indicative of the kind of country Ruto is running right now… A country which has its priorities upside down. Schools, hospitals, universities are all grounded. But a Chinese loan is what we need most!”
Mwangi Maina went on, “As a visiting delegation, it’s essential to keep your antennas up and be vigilant about every detail. If the host doesn’t catch an issue, it’s your responsibility to notice and demand protocol be followed correctly.”
“A flag is a symbol of national unity—unless, of course, the president is running the country upside down. That’s the metaphorical impression I get.”
At the IGAD meeting in Djibouti, the full-sized Kenyan flag was once again displayed upside down, just a meter away from President Ruto, who was engaged in conversation with other leaders. This mishap followed a similar incident in January when Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi met with his Tanzanian counterpart, January Makamba, in Uganda, where the Kenyan flag was also incorrectly positioned.
Even within Kenya, such blunders persist. During the Jamhuri Day celebrations in December 2022, Governor Kawira Mwangaza’s administration mistakenly draped the Kenyan flag upside down around the podium.
Despite being repeatedly called out for these embarrassing errors, none of the Kenyan leaders involved in these incidents, including the President, has addressed or apologized for the mistakes.
Public Relations expert Bernard Aloo commented, “Kenya’s protocol teams are turning the Kenyan flag into a mockery. Having the flag upside down at international events three times is not just a small slip-up; it’s a significant breach. Next time a host confuses our flag with South Sudan’s, it will likely go unnoticed!”
In May, US Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito also faced backlash for mistakenly raising the US flag upside down outside his home.
