located five kilometers from Nyeri town, the Italian War Memorial Church is the final resting place for 676 Italian soldiers captured by the British A
located five kilometers from Nyeri town, the Italian War Memorial Church is the final resting place for 676 Italian soldiers captured by the British Army during World War II. The church, built in 1952, serves as a poignant tribute to these soldiers, with a separate structure nearby holding the remains of African soldiers, primarily of Somali origin, who could not be interred within the church due to their faith.
This church is no ordinary Catholic sanctuary. Its design and location were carefully chosen to honor the fallen soldiers, and it remains largely unused for regular worship. Mass is celebrated only once a year on September 2, All Souls Day, attracting numerous Italian visitors who come to pay their respects.
The church’s interior reflects Italian style and features appealing copper and bronze inscriptions. Funded by the Italian government and its nationals in Kenya, the church was constructed to house the remains of Italian soldiers previously scattered across East Africa.
Prominently located inside the church is a marble tomb for Amadeo di Savoia Duca di Aosta, the senior Italian army officer in East Africa during the war. His statue and military gear rest atop the grave. Amadeo was a significant figure, and Italian Foreign Minister Galeazzo Ciano praised him as “humane in spirit” in his diaries.
Additionally, the church is linked to the story of Felice Benuzzi, an Italian writer who, along with two fellow prisoners, escaped from a British camp in 1943 and scaled Mt. Kenya. Their daring escape earned them solitary confinement as a reward.
The church stands as a historical and architectural landmark, commemorating the bravery and sacrifice of the soldiers from World War II.
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