Capturing voices of the past: 39 veteran interviews completed in Kenya

The Commonwealth War Graves Kenyan Oral Histories project goes from strength to strength, with 39 veterans interviewed.

Kenyan Oral Histories

Image: Kenyan Second World War veterans John K Achaga, left, and Laban Kidaki, right

The Voices of the Past project has been instrumental in capturing testimonials from often overlooked veterans of the Second World War.

Tens of thousands of Kenyans, alongside others raised from across East Africa, served in the Second World War on battlefields in Africa and the Far East. 

These veterans are amongst the last living people who can share what it was like to serve in some of the toughest theatres Commonwealth troops experienced during the Second World War.

By recording the testimonials of Kenyan veterans, we can give these men, and their fallen comrades, a new sense of remembrance.

Dr John Burke, Commonwealth War Graves Senior Research Historian said:
“These interviews are of immeasurable value, as these veterans are amongst the small number now remaining who can speak of their experiences in the Second World War. Experiences which, for a variety of reasons, are not often widely known. 

“By undertaking these recordings we can now ensure that the actions of these men, as spoken in their own words, will be preserved and can be given a greater voice than ever before. Their stories, and those of their fallen comrades, will never be forgotten.”

Connecting future generations with the past

Image: Second World War veteran Kilion Onyuka interviewed by student Laura Oweda

The interviews, conducted between November and December 2024, were undertaken by students drawn from across Kenya.

In doing so, they were able to learn about the experiences of Second World War veterans directly from them. This falls in line with the Commonwealth War Graves’ efforts to share the stories of those who served, fought, and fell in the World War with future generations so their experiences are never forgotten.

Prior to commencing the interviews, the students received training on oral history techniques from a facilitator accredited by the British Library and the Oral History Society. Across a two-day workshop, the students focused on interview skills and best practice. 

Each received a certificate accredited by these important training institutions. Commonwealth War Graves is proud to contribute to the development of our student project participants.

International collaboration 

Image: Student Paul Ramogi speaking with veteran Peter Nyabande Ongidi

The project was organised alongside the Defence Forces Comrades Association (DEFOCA ), a non-profit making organisation that promotes the welfare of registered serving and retired members of the Kenya Defence Forces. Coordinated with Commonwealth War Graves teams in the UK and Kenya, DEFOCA was able to locate and connect student interviewers with veterans. 

However, although DEFOCA was able to identify over 70 Kenyan Second World War veterans, 19 sadly passed away before the project commenced or before they could be contacted, while a further 12 could not be located and 4 were too ill to speak.

As such, work is still ongoing by DEFOCA and local chiefs to try to locate those outstanding veterans. Out of this work, 5 further veterans have been located so every effort will be made to reach them and record their testimonials.

Given the personnel and geographic challenges facing the project participants, interviewing 39 Second World War veterans is a significant achievement . It is testament to the work of the teams on the ground, coordinated by Mercy Gakii, that this project has been such a success.

Preserving their testimonials is an important step in understanding the wider picture of African servicemen’s contribution to the Second World War. Their experiences, and the sacrifices of their comrades who never returned home, can never be overlooked or forgotten.

Next steps

With the interview stage completed, the next steps are to transcribe and catalogue the veterans' testimonials, ensuring they are preserved and made available for all to engage with. 

This will allow the voices of these men to live on and gain a wider audience, as via outreach and educational activities, the CWGC is committed to ensuring their vital contributions are never forgotten.

The Non-Commemorations Project

The Commonwealth War Graves Non-Commemoration Programme has a clear mandate: to ensure all those who died in the world wars, no matter where they were, where they died or how they died are remembered equally.

Our historians work with global and state archive materials to direct their research. This allows us to yield important information – we can identify missing names, understand casualty numbers, and identify likely burial locations, as well as reinstate abandoned graves.  

Our operations experts, heritage managers and community engagement experts in countries then consult with local communities, governments, institutions, architects, and global heritage experts on the most appropriate form of commemoration.

We work with architects and heritage experts, who enable us to create new memorials for what is our largest piece of work since the Second World War. 

Every name we recover is a person no longer forgotten, every community and stakeholder engaged with goes some way to righting a historical wrong, and combined these important programmes ensure all those who lost their lives serving the Commonwealth in the First and Second War are equally remembered. 

Learn more about the Non-Commemorations Project here.

Supporting the Non-Commemorations Project

The Commonwealth War Graves Foundation has been able to support the important work of the Non-Commemorations Project via funding oral history projects.

In addition to the Kenyan Oral Histories Project, the Foundation has also funded a similar project in Tanzania, again focused on capturing and preserving veteran testimonials to aid research and to share their stories.

All our projects rely on the generosity of our Members and our supporters. Please consider donating today to help make a real difference to the remembrance and commemoration of Second World War servicemen.

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