The 19 veterans
who served in the British Army during World War II were presented replacement medals by the British High Commissioner to
Kenya Neil Wigan on Saturday.
The medal replacement is part of a wider
initiative to honour the vital role played by Kenyan veterans who took part in World War II and
replace lost medals.
The medal re-presentation was hosted by the UK’s Defence Adviser Brigadier Olly Bryant and witnessed by Kenya Defence Forces and caregivers and families to the veterans.
The event marked the fifth ceremony on Kenyan soil, underscoring a continued commitment to honoring Kenyan veterans who served in the British Army during WWII.
“Today, we honor Kenyan heroes whose bravery and sacrifice continue to resonate across generations,” Wigan said.
“The medals they have received today are more than symbols; they represent profound acts of courage, loyalty, and selflessness by men and women, many of whom traveled far from their homeland in service of a higher cause.”
This initiative which is part of a wider programme to recognise Kenyan war veterans, includes welfare grants to support the daily needs of veterans and widows.
Through the Royal Commonwealth initiative, grants equivalent to two meals a day have significantly improved the lives of 829 Askaris and widows.
The British Legion (Kenya) administers these efforts, with substantial support from the Kenyan Defence Forces Old Comrades Association (DEFOCA).
Also in attendance was the Managing Director Kenya Defence Old Comrades Association, Brigadier Joakim Mwamburi and Sam Mattock, The Councillor of the Embassy of the Order of Malta to Kenya, who has pioneered the efforts to honour the veterans
“Veterans don’t often talk about their time in the military, and they rarely talk about the sometimes-daily hardships in their life journey post-military service, but those memories are never really far away," Mattock said.
"These men are real Mashujaas—heroes—being honored in a small way with these medals and this ceremony.”
The ongoing medal replacement initiative saw its previous event held earlier this year in Kakamega County, where the British High Commissioner awarded medals to 15 veterans from Western Kenya.
Last November, during his visit to Kenya, His Majesty the
King presented medals to four Kenyan war veterans at Nairobi’s Kariokor
Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery.
For decades, DEFOCA has worked to preserve the legacy of retired officers and those who fought in WWII, offering assistance and ensuring their service is remembered.
This year’s honored veterans included men from various counties across Kenya.
With each medal re-presentation, the UK continues to underscore the invaluable contributions of Kenyan WWII veterans, paying tribute to a generation whose courage played a role in shaping the course of history.
