Commonwealth War Cemetery Nyeri

The Nyeri War Cemetery is located at Kiganjo in Nyeri County, a town that is better known for its police training school. The cemetery is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), an organization responsible for caring for the graves and memorials of Commonwealth military personnel who died in the two world wars.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), on its website, notes that the Nyeri War Cemetery “contains 368 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the Second World War.” War casualties who succumbed at the British military hospital or the one used by Italian Prisoners of War (POWs) were buried here.

History of the Nyeri War Cemetery

Three general hospitals were built at Nyeri during the Second World War but only two were used; one by the military authorities and the other for the Italian refugees and prisoners of war held in the area. The burials in the war cemetery were made from these hospitals. Nyeri War Cemetery contains 368 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the Second World War. Four of the burials are unidentified and one soldier is commemorated by a special memorial. The cemetery also contains two non-war burials and one French war grave. Nine Italian graves have been removed.

How to get here

When coming from Nairobi, take the Naro Moro to Nanyuki road from Karatina to Nyeri, as indicated by the direction sign. On the road from Karatina to Nyeri take the right turn signposted to Nanyuki and the cemetery is 8 kilometres up this road set back to the right-hand side. A direction sign indicates the turn-off for the cemetery as it is not easily visible from the road.

Nyeri War Cemetery

At the site, one is welcomed by the sight of neat rows of headstones in different corners, but it takes a keen eye to notice they are arranged according to nationalities. The well-kempt grass, perfectly trimmed fence, and beautiful flowers are a sight to behold. One would be forgiven for mistaking it for a picnic site.

The cemetery contains 368 war burials with 349 East Africans, eight South Africans, six Britons, one Indian, one Frenchman, and four unidentified people. The cemetery also contains two non-world war burials. Beside each grave are colorful flowers such as bougainvillea, buttercup, and pansy that help soften the view of its surroundings. Each headstone is inscribed in English for the Christian soldiers and in Arabic (with English translations) for the Muslim soldiers, except for 24-year-old Manohar Singh of the Indian army whose headstone is in Hindi script.

The writings describe the name, age, rank, and regiment of the soldiers who fought in the East African campaign during the Second World War, which was considered the deadliest in the history of mankind lasting from 1939 to 1945. The headstones of the African soldiers from the King’s African Rifles, the East African Army Corps, the African Pioneer Corps, and the Northern Rhodesian Regiment are among those in the graveyard.

The British soldiers visit the place annually on November 11 to hold a memorial service. They bring flowers that are laid at the cross of sacrifice in the middle of the graves, which is a collective feature in all Commonwealth war graves worldwide. The cemetery also hosts many students who come to learn more about the history of the people who fought in the Second World War. The location was suitable because the Kenya Police College Clinic was the closest at the time.

Nyeri War Cemetery Opening Hours

Nyeri War Cemetery is open Monday to Friday between 6 am and 6 pm. Outside of these hours, the cemetery is locked with a coded padlock. If you are intending to visit this site outside of the opening hours the code to the padlock can be obtained from the cemetery’s office in Kenya on +254 20260 4301. The opening hours of this office are Monday-Friday 8:30 am -12:30 pm, 1:30 pm-4:30 pm (closed weekends).

Wheelchair access to this cemetery is possible via the main entrance. For further information regarding wheelchair access, please contact the Enquiries Section on telephone number 01628 507200.