Kisii Cemetery

War Memorials in Kisii

Kisii Boma Cemetery: A Solitary Site

This is a hundred yards from the Kisii Government Office and contains only one grave of Captain Edward Gerald Mytton Thorneycroft, the Adjutant of 4KAR. In 1914, he was placed in command, and his force consisted of ‘G’ Company 4KAR based at Kisumu, ‘C’ and ‘D’ Companies 4KAR from Uganda, and 50 British East African police from Kisumu, as a British response to the German occupation of Kisii, who had advanced in numbers and sending as many troops as possible from Uganda across Lake Victoria to Kisumu and then on to Kendu, and lastly to Kisii.

Four natural invasion routes were available from German territory into BEA and Schutztruppe troops used all of them. On the Indian Ocean coast a push on Mombasa was repulsed by the British at Gazi, whilst further to the north-west fierce fighting took place in the thick bush of the Tsavo River Valley. The more arid route to Kajiado and Nairobi from GEA via Namanga was used by mounted German raiding parties who clashed with detachments of the Magadi Defence Force and East Africa Mounted Rifles. Also an advance towards Kisumu – the railhead of Uganda Railway, was made along the southern area of Lake Victoria.

Captain Thorneycroft occupied a ridge of high ground overlooking Kisii town on the morning of September 12, 1914, and observed the enemy force parading and preparing to march towards Kisumu. However the Germans were soon alerted by local Africans that the British were occupying the ridgeline and a determined enemy attack was mounted. Thorneycroft then advanced with a party into Kisii town but he was soon surprised by a German patrol and shot dead. At sundown, both sides having suffered sizable casualties, Von Wulfingen, himself wounded, decided to abandon his attack. Ending the most notable colonial skirmish in Kisii.

He left the wounded that he could not carry and quickly withdrew his survivors back directly towards the border and then across the Mara River in GEA. The next day, the British re-occupied the gutted Kisii to find 5 wounded Germans and 16 wounded enemy Askari lying on the ground, along with disused rifles, revolvers and supplies. A military garrison occupied Kisii and troops took stern measures to discipline the looters and to re-assert British East Africa government’s authority. The graves of the Germans who died at Kisii are in the cemetery at Kisumu. The burial sites of the dead local askaris of both sides are regrettably unknown.

Kenya has several war memorials that commemorate the sacrifices of soldiers and civilians during various conflicts, including World War I and World War II. These memorials serve as places for reflection and remembrance, and are important historical and cultural landmarks honoring those who fought and died.

Index of War Memorials Around Kenya



Isiolo County - Isiolo Memorial, Kajiado County - Kajiado War Memorial, Kiambu County - Kiambu (St. Paul) Churchyard Memorial, Thika War Memorial, Kisii County - The Kisii Boma Cemetery, Kisumu County - Kisumu War Civil Cemetery, Kitui County - Kitui War Memorial, Laikipia County - The Nanyuki War Cemetery, Marsabit County - Marsabit Cemetery, Mombasa County - Mombasa (Mbaraki) Cemetery, Mombasa Manyimbo War Cemetery, Mombasa African Memorial, Muranga County - Muranga (St. James & All Martyrs) Churchyard, Nairobi County - The Nairobi South Cemetery, Nairobi War Cemetery, The Nairobi African Memorial, Forest Road Cemetery, Nairobi (Kariokor) Cemetery, Nakuru County - Gilgil War Cemetery, North Nakuru Cemetery, Nyeri County - Nyeri War Memorial, Nyeri Civil Cemetery, Italian Memorial & Somali Wall, Taita Taveta County - Taveta Military Cemetery, Maktau Indian Cemetery, Maktau Railway Station & Cemetery, Voi Cemetery, Trans Nzoia County - Kitale War Memorial, Uasin Gishu County - The Eldoret War Cemetery, Wajir County - Wajir War Cemetery

Kisii County is a vibrant region with a strong agrarian base, rich cultural heritage, and a growing economy. Continued development in infrastructure, with smooth blacktop connecting major towns and rural areas, has made it accessible from all directions. Kisii County’s scenic hills, waterfalls, cottage industries and modern hotels offer opportunities for visiting a region erstwhile relegated as agrarian.