The Kings African Rifles ( KAR ) was a multi - Battalion British Colonial Regiment raised from the various British Possessions in East Africa Colonies as well as external service as recorded here after rank and file were African called Askaris while most of the Officers were seconded from the British Army Regiments. When raised there were some Sudanese Officers in the Uganda raised Battalions and towards end of the British Colonial Rule, African Officers were commissioned in the various battalions. Until independence the parade uniform of the Kings African Rifles comprised Khaki Drill with full Fezzes and cummerbund. Both items were normally red although there some battalions distinctions with Nyasa-lands units for example wearing black fezzes. Prior to 1914 the regiments fields services uniforms reflected its constabulary role and consisted of a dark blue jersey and puttees, khaki shorts and a khaki fez cover with integral fold able cloth peak and neck flap.
African Askaris wore sandals or were bear foot on the rationale that the heavy military boots of the period's were unsuitable for recruits who had not previously worn foot wear. Fezzes bore Arabic or Roman Geometric shaped pat dies of cloth. During the great war all the dark blue items were replaced with khaki equivalents and a short pillar box hat with khaki cover was worn on campaign. After the war the khaki shirt was replaced by a collarless blue-grey angora
shirt called a " Grey back".
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