KISWAHILI LYRICS

Ee Mungu nguvu yetu 
Ilete baraka kwetu 
Haki iwe ngao na mlinzi 
Natukae na undugu 
Amani na uhuru 
Raha tupate na ustawi.  

Amkeni ndugu zetu 
Tufanye sote bidii 
Nasi tujitoe kwa nguvu 
Nchi yetu ya Kenya 
Tunayoipenda 
Tuwe tayari kuilinda  

Natujenge taifa letu 
Ee, ndio wajibu wetu 
Kenya istahili heshima 
Tuungane mikono 
Pamoja kazini 
Kila siku tuwe na shukrani 

---
ENGLISH LYRICS

O God of all creation 
Bless this our land and nation 
Justice be our shield and defender 
May we dwell in unity 
Peace and liberty 
Plenty be found within our borders.  

Let one and all arise 
With hearts both strong and true 
Service be our earnest endeavour 
And our homeland of Kenya 
Heritage of splendour 
Firm may we stand to defend. 

Let all with one accord 
In common bond united 
Build this our nation together 
And the glory of Kenya 
The fruit of our labour 
Fill every heart with thanksgiving. 


-------------------------

Kenya
"Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu" (Oh God of All Creation)

Words by:Graham Hyslop, Thomas Kalume, Peter Kibukosya, Washington Omondi and
George W. Senoga-Zake
Music by:traditional, adapted by Graham Hyslop, Thomas Kalume, Peter Kibukosya,
Washington Omondi and George W. Senoga-Zake
Adopted:1963

Kenya's was the first anthem in Africa to be written by a group comissioned by
the government. One of the goals of the group was to incorporate traditional
Kenyan music in the anthem, the resulting anthem, therefore, has a very African
feel to it, a typical example of the "Eastern_folk" style of anthem. The melody
is actually based on a traditional Kenyan folk song, sung by mothers to their
children.

Other criteria the group was charged with to create the anthem was that the
tune had to be of the right length and quality, yet possesing the neccessary
dignity. It also had to lend itself to having words written for it, in both
English and Swahili (the official languages of the country). The words had to
unify the nation, yet contain the aspirations of the whole country. And the
melody had to be able to be performed by a military band, without impairing the
original feel of the song. With all those goals in mind, the anthem was ready
in time for independence in December, 1963.

See also: Kenya_(?-1963).
