King Charles III visits Kariokor cemetery, honours casualties of world wars
By Wycliffe Nyamasege, November 1, 2023
Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, paid a visit to a Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) cemetery in Kariokor, Nairobi, as their visit to Kenya entered the second day.
The King and Queen, who began their four-day State visit on Tuesday, lay a wreath at the memorial in honour of the casualties of the First and Second World Wars.
They were joined by the British and Kenyan military personnel.
The cemetery is situated in an area associated with the Carrier Corps of World War I hence the Kenyan name ‘Kariokor’.
Most of the Kariokor casualties were not individually commemorated, and their contribution was largely overlooked.
According to Buckingham Palace, the visit is an opportunity for Their Majesties to engage with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s ‘Non-Commemorated Project’, which addresses the historical inequalities in commemorating those killed during the First and Second World War.
At Kariokor, the King presented four Mau Mau veterans with replacement campaign medals, as many veterans who fought in World War II alongside the British disposed of their medals.
One of the veterans is Corporal Samwel Nthigai Mburia, who is 117 years old. The others are Private John Kavai, Private Kefa Chagira and Private Ezekiel Nyanjom Anyange.
The King and Queen also met Sam Mattock, who has taken the lead in identifying living veterans of World War II, and sourcing replacement campaign medals.
The King also met members of the community involved in the future of the Kariokor site, and the ongoing work to ensure that African soldiers who fell during the two World Wars, who were not individually commemorated, are recognised through historical research and engagement with the local community to find the most appropriate means of marking their contribution.
“Their Majesties will receive a briefing on the future of the site, and its significant role as a focal point for community action,” a statement from the Royal family reads.