NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 18 — The Indonesian Embassy in Nairobi on Monday marked the country’s 81st Independence Day with a colourful flag-raising ceremony that brought together members of the Indonesian community and friends of Indonesia in Kenya.

📻 Breaking It Down

The ceremony, led by Indonesian Ambassador to Kenya Witjaksono Adji at the embassy grounds in Upper Hill, commemorated Indonesia’s declaration of independence from Dutch colonial rule on August 17, 1945.

The raising of the red-and-white Indonesian flag, accompanied by the national anthem Indonesia Raya , was the centrepiece of the ceremony, which also featured the recitation of Pancasila, the country’s foundational state ideology, and readings from the 1945 Constitution and the Proclamation of Independence.

The ceremony provided an opportunity for Indonesians living in Kenya to honour the country’s independence struggle while reaffirming the values that underpin the Indonesian state.

📌 What You Need to Know

Speaking after the ceremony, Ambassador Adji said the annual event was significant because it reminded Indonesians of the difficult journey through which their country secured sovereignty.

“It is very important to Indonesia because it is a day when Indonesia itself is established, is born out of the breaking away from the colonial power that is the Netherlands,” Adji said.

He said the flag-raising was more than a symbolic ritual, describing it as a reminder of the responsibility of present generations to protect the ideals for which Indonesia’s founding generation fought.

“Every year we raise the flag that was hard-fought,” he said.

One of the key moments of the ceremony was the collective recitation of Pancasila, Indonesia’s five foundational principles.

The principles emphasize belief in God, just and civilized humanity, the unity of Indonesia, democracy through deliberation and representation, and social justice for all.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya