The Lion is the symbol of strength and courage, and of the determined fight for excellence and justice. It also represents Kenya, our country, which strives to attain all the qualities mentioned above.
The Three Hearts represent the three races which, in 1961 when the University started, were segregated in the colonial system of education. The heart represents the person since it is taken as the source of all our actions, and the source of love. The fact that the three hearts all have the same colour shows the equality of all people and their aim to love and understand each other. In the beginning, it clearly pointed at the target of racial unity. Today it symbolises the common aim of parents, teachers and students in the educational process of Strathmore.
The Motto “Ut Omnes Unum Sint” is Latin. It is a quotation from a passage of the Gospel, and means “That all may be one”. It expresses our desire to work together towards the same aim, in spite of personal differences or opinion, tastes and backgrounds.
The colours in heraldry (the science dealing with coats of arms) have associated meanings as follows:
Yellow (Gold) Gold means eternity, perfection.
Blue (Azure) Sky blue means high ideals, high aims.
Red (Gules) Blood red means sacrifice, love, fortitude.
The Rose in full bloom represents love, the source of all good desires and actions, even if at times this means loving sacrifice, as represented by the thorns. The rose has a supernatural meaning too. Love, with capital letters, is the love of God. The rose also has a historical meaning associated with the life of Saint Josemaría Escrivá, founder of Opus Dei, who inspired and encouraged the people who started Strathmore: he once received a divine sign in the form of a carved gilded rose in a very trying moment of his life.
