Manyimbo World War Cemetery in Mombasa Declared National Heritage Site

The Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Culture and Children Services has declared the Manyimbo World War Cemetery in Mombasa a national monument. Hanna Wendot Cheptumo issued the order in Gazette Notice No. 8991 under the National Museums and Heritage Act. This gives the historic burial ground formal legal protection.

The declaration identifies the cemetery as a place of historical interest. It now holds the status of a National Monument under Section 25(1)(b) of the National Museums and Heritage Act.

The protected site lies in Tudor Four Sub-location in Tudor Location, Mvita Sub-county, Mombasa County. It forms part of the urban fabric of the coastal city.

The cemetery covers approximately 0.1489 hectares. It sits at an elevation of 21 metres above sea level. These measurements are included in the official gazette notice for reference.

Manyimbo World War Cemetery was established during the Second World War. It served as a burial site for Commonwealth soldiers who died in the East African campaign between 1939 and 1945.

The site contains 225 Commonwealth burials in total. Fourteen of these graves remain unidentified. They stand as a record of the soldiers who lost their lives in the regional conflict.

Mombasa served as a key naval base and logistics hub for Allied forces during the war years. Its deep-water harbour was the only major natural naval base in East Africa then.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is responsible for the maintenance of the cemetery. The commission ensures the graves and the site as a whole retain their dignity and condition.

Any objection to the declaration shall be lodged with the Cabinet Secretary within sixty days from the date of publication of this notice. The period is open for public submissions on the matter.

The gazette notice states that the Cabinet Secretary declares the specified place which she considers to be of historical interest and a National Monument within the meaning of the Act.

This protection now applies to the Manyimbo cemetery under Kenya's heritage legislation. The designation shields the site from changes that could compromise its historical integrity or the memorials it contains.

The sixty day objection window begins from the date the notice appeared in the Kenya Gazette. Interested parties should direct any concerns to the Cabinet Secretary's office within that time.

The declaration brings an important piece of Mombasa's wartime heritage under national protection. The cemetery in the Tudor area now carries official recognition as a site of historical significance.

Details of the exact boundaries and the full terms of the declaration are available in Gazette Notice No. 8991. The document serves as the primary reference for the new status.