[Mount Athos]

This is only wikipedia, but they state: “On June 1, 1964, Kenyatta became President when he successfully had Parliament amend the Constitution to make Kenya a republic with his office becoming executive President: the head of State, head of Government, and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.” Is this not so?

Even if true, the date given is after this document was stamped on February 17th, 1964. The history posted on the country's own official government websites lists december 1964 as the date it became a republic, but maybe there is something to the claim about June as well, don't rule it out.

I do not rule out the possibility that an official "republic" seal might have existed before it officially became a republic, I just think it's a really great reason to be skeptical of the document until we find the same seal on similarly dated docs...

[9YearLurker]

Ah, yes, and I do indeed see your point.

[PA Engineer]

I do not rule out the possibility that an official "republic" seal might have existed before it officially became a republic, I just think it's a really great reason to be skeptical of the document until we find the same seal on similarly dated docs...

There is another possibility. You assume that they received the certificate of birth immediately after it was applied for. Maybe it took some time to turn around. Years ago when working in Nigeria, we would have to make many visits and provide "baksheesh" for work permits. This would take many months. Why do you think the applied on date is the same as the delivery date?

There is no date (except maybe the seal) on this document to determine when it was finally received. I would like to see a clearer view of the raised seal.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Hmmm...June of 1964...another factoid...

Of course If that date made it official...he would want all the bureaucrats to be ready to go...with necessary documentation....

[fiodora]

According the U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE:
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2836.htm#history
You are in: Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affair..
ROFILE
OFFICIAL NAME:
Federal Republic of Nigeria

Government
Type: Federal republic.
Independence: October 1, 1960.
Constitution: The 1999 constitution (based largely on the 1979 constitution) was promulgated by decree on May 5, 1999 and came into force on May 29, 1999.
[...]

Independence
Nigeria was granted full independence in October 1960, as a federation of three regions (northern, western, and eastern) under a constitution that provided for a parliamentary form of government. Under the constitution, each of the three regions retained a substantial measure of self-government. The federal government was given exclusive powers in defense and security, foreign relations, and commercial and fiscal policies. In October 1963, Nigeria altered its relationship with the United Kingdom by proclaiming itself a federal republic and promulgating a new constitution. A fourth region (the midwest) was established that year. From the outset, Nigeria’s ethnic, regional, and religious tensions were magnified by the significant disparities in economic and educational development between the south and the north.