King Charles, Queen Camilla pay homage to World War heroes at Kariokor cemetry

The royals, who are on a four-day State visit that began on Tuesday, honored the memory of casualties from the First and Second World Wars by laying a wreath at the memorial.

Welcomed by Prime Cabinet Minister Musalia Mudavadi, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, and the manager of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in East Africa, Daniel Achini, the King and Queen participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the cemetery.

The King subsequently presented medals to World War 2 veterans.

Prime CS Mudavadi, responding to journalists, highlighted the significance of the visit emphasizing the shared history of Kenya and Britain during the world wars. 

"This is a very significant moment to be able to reflect on the fact that we were fighting on the same side in those wars, so this is a very great moment to be able to reflect on that journey together," he said.

Governor Sakaja added that it was befitting for the King to pay respects at the cemetery, which many Kenyans have visited since their childhoods. 

"If you look at the tombstones, they are all Kenyans from different communities who were engaged in the wars," he noted.

Sakaja also highlighted the ongoing efforts to preserve the land housing the cemetery, which holds 33 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War. 

He expressed a commitment to preserving this heritage for future generations, saying, "We have stood firm to protect this land because it is a heritage that we want our children and their children to be able to understand the rich history."

World War One and Two veteran Michael Nyagudi Deya expressed his happiness about the King's visit and his acknowledgment of the fallen Kenyan soldiers who fought alongside the British.

He described the challenges they faced and their unwavering commitment to following the British soldiers wherever they were deployed.

"We were just young men, and the work that we did then was very tough, add on to the fact that we never knew where we were being sent to next; all we could do was follow the British soldiers."

Following their visit to the cemetery, the royal procession continued to the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in Gigiri, where they were received by the UN Director General Zainab Hawa Bangura.

The Kariokor cemetery, named after the Carrier Corps of World War One, is one of Nairobi's main cemeteries.

It commemorates the sacrifices of many who were not individually recognized, with 59 Commonwealth casualties of the Second World War, including three unidentified soldiers from African regiments such as the King's African Rifles, East African Army Service Corps, and the East African Army Medical Corps.