War Memorials in Taita Taveta
Maktau Railway Station & Cemetery
Fading fast, the original railway station build at Maktau still stands. The aging gun emplacement, trenches and stone fortifications around Maktau Hill, which once stood guard over 20,000 troops, native porters and carriers stationed there, can still be seen today although in a somewhat neglected state and outgrown with vegetation. Of particular interest are the names carved into the stone by some of the British troops stationed here. Maktau Hill is reachable from Lumo Wildlife Sanctuary, Taita Hills Sanctuary as well as from Taveta via A23 Voi-Taveta Road.
The small town of Maktau became historically significant thanks to its role during World War as a base for British forces fighting against the Germans in East Africa. Of the 35 sites in Taita Taveta enshrining the encounters between the British and German forces during WW1, Maktau Railway Station and Cemetery are possibly the best preserved. As it were, one of German East Africa’s paramount agendas was to keep the British forces occupied to draw away its opportunities of sending idle troops to other regions of conflict including to Mesopotamia and Dardenelles.
During that time, the British built a railway line from Voi to Taveta to support their military operations, and Maktau was one of the stops along this line. The railway was primarily used for transporting troops and supplies. On a lesser scope, the Germans were bent on destroying the new railway that was a key lifeline for the British. Hazard a guess, to dice harm, the Brits set up base at Maktau in readiness for an attack by the Germans, who had fortified Salaita Hill. At Maktau a compact British mounted batallion was ambushed and suppressed on September 4, 1915.
The apparent commitment to invade and destroy enemy territory in Europe had the same lucidity in East Africa. As 1915 rolled in, the imminence of war along the border zone of Kenya and Tanzania was seemingly unavoidable. In February, 1915, work on the 70 km railway from Voi to Taveta began. The construction of this line, the first and only military line in East Africa, advanced double quick, laid by about 3,000 men, and reached Maktau on June 23. The line would serve as a terminus for the disembarking troops. Concomitantly, the rejig of a water pipeline running parallel to the railway began in February from Bura to supply water to Maktau.
This put the screw on the fortification of Maktau Camp staffed by 20,000 askaris, reinforcement depot and a clearing hospital. As it the way with brutal dust-ups, Maktau Cemetery allotted, and used from March, 1915, to May, 1916, and contains 16 graves, including 1 unidentified. The burials sit on the southern side of the Voi-Moshi railway off A23 Road. As a result of the fast progress at Maktau, it became, for many years since, a reasonable settlement, with mixed results. After the war, the railway fell into disuse, and today, there is no active railway station in Maktau.
Also, owing to the heavy over-grazing of the land near Maktau, where water for stock was made available by the railway authorities, the District Officer at Taveta instituted a scheme under which the cattle based on Maktau had to be kept to a safe and much lower number, the remainder being relocated to the vicinity of Lualenyi, 23 km southeast of Maktau. It was also hoped that many of the herders would be persuaded to move their cattle near Kinjaro Hill, a further 36 km, where grazing was excellent and where the waterholes would provide bottomless water.
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
Situated in south-western Kenya, and part of the Coast Region of Kenya, Taita-Taveta County is known for its stunning landscapes, rich biodiversity, and cultural heritage. The county features diverse landscapes, including the Taita Hills, which are part of the Eastern Arc Mountains, and the vast plains of Tsavo, which are part of Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks – Kenya’s largest wildlife preserve.
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Guide to Taita Taveta County
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About Taita Taveta Way Back When
85 Destinations in Taita Taveta County, arranged as one would visit these - north, west then south - with aid of in-depth narratives, images, strip maps and distance chart:
Chyulu Hills National Park, Kisula Caves, Kampi ya Kanzi Lodge, Tsavo West National Park, Kamboyo Lodge, Mzima Springs, Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge, Ancient Roaring Rocks, Ngulia Hills, Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary, Kitchwa Tembo Hill, Chaimu Crater, The Five Sister's Hills, Shetani Lava, Finch Hattons Camp, Mount Kilimanjaro, Lake Chala, Crystal Lake Chala Caves, Voyager Ziwani Tented Camp, Sniper Tree, Gicheha Ziwani Farm, The Njoro Springs, Grogan’s Castle, Mokine Hill, Lake Jipe, Lake Jipe Eco-lodge, Salaita Hill, The Taveta Military Cemetery, Maktau Indian Cemetery, Maktau Railway Station, Taita Hills Game Lodge, Taita Hills Museum, Sarova Salt Lick Lodge, Mwashoti Hill, Maili 27 Bridge, Mwakitau Hill, Lumo Game Sanctuary, Lions Bluff Lodge, Lualenyi Camp, Ndolwa Game Sanctuary, Dembwa Falls, Bura Mission Church, Vuria Hill, Taita Hills, Wesu Rock, Taita Rocks Hotel, Malowa's Shrine, Taita Skull Caves, Taita Research Station, Kilangarenyi Falls, Ngangao Forest, Kenyatta Caves, Mount Sagalla, Rev. Wray Memorial Museum, Ngutuni Wildlife Sanctuary, Volunteer International Camp Tsavo, Mount Kasigau, Kasigau Base Camp, The Maungu Plains, Rukinga Wildlife Sanctuary, Wushumbu Conservancy, Teita Sisal Estate, Mbulia Conservancy, Tsavo East National Park, Ithumba Elephant Nursery, Yatta Plateau, Tsavo Springs, Emusaya Wilderness Arc, Galdessa Little Camp, Lugard's Falls, Mudanda Rock, Voi War Cemetery, Lion Hill Lodge, Kanderi Swamp, Voi Wildlife Lodge, Aruba Dam, A. Aruba Lodge, Nyiri Desert
Know More About Taita Taveta County: Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads - including distance chart, Airports, Climate & National Monuments
The mean temperature in Taita Taveta is 23 Degrees Celsius, cooler around the hills and hotter on the Nyika where the Tsavos sit. Rainfall distribution is uneven, with the highlands receiving higher rains than the lowland areas.
Taita Taveta County is divided into two major topographical zones: The upper zone high zones, and the lower zone consists of plains of Tsavos.