What type of shield is centered on Kenya's national flag?

The type of shield centered on Kenya’s national flag is a Maasai shield.

The shield appears in red, black, and white, with two crossed spears behind it. Together, these traditional defensive weapons symbolize the protection of Kenya’s people, land, and national values. The shield is associated with Maasai cultural heritage, although it serves on the flag as a national symbol rather than as an emblem of the Maasai alone.

Kenya adopted the flag on 12 December 1963, the date of independence from the United Kingdom. Its design grew out of the flag of the Kenya African National Union, but the final national version added white borders between the black, red, and green bands. Those colors are commonly interpreted as representing the people, the struggle for independence, and the land’s natural wealth; white represents peace.

A common mix-up is to identify the emblem simply as a tribal shield or to confuse it with shields associated with other African peoples. The flag’s formal description specifically identifies it as a traditional Maasai shield.