The Arab Rifles Military Grave, Mafumoni

Location information

Arab Rifles Military Grave, Mafumoni, is a little north of the road from Mweli to Kikonehi, on the south edge of a forest. On the road itself, a little west of the grave, is the grave of A. J. B. Wavell and J. L. Mackintosh who fell alongside these members of the Arabs Rifle Regiment 9th January 1916.

Visiting information

A project is currently underway at the Arab Rifles Military Grave site in Mafumoni to safeguard and redevelop the site in collaboration with the local community. In the meantime the site may intermittently be inaccessible until the works are completed.

Wheelchair access will be possible via main entrance. For further information regarding wheelchair access, please contact our Enquiries Section on telephone number 01628 507200.

History information

The Arab Rifles were established at the outbreak of the First World War by Arthur Wavell to help defend Mombasa and the coastal region of Kenya from German incursions. Drawn mainly from the coastal communities of Kenya, a total of 425 men served with the Arab Rifles across the period of the war, and of these, 43 died.

In early January 1916, Wavell and 80 of his men were stationed in the vicinity of Gazi on the coastal strip of southern Kenya. With reports that a German force was advancing towards Mwele Ndogo, the Arab Rifles marched inland to cut them off. However, on 9 January 1916 the Arab Rifles were ambushed at Mkongani by a much larger German force. In total, 16 men were killed during this action.

Following the battle, the mother of Arthur Wavell purchased the land and erected two memorials, one for the British officers, and one for the other ranks of the Arab Rifles. However, when the IWGC commenced their work in Kenya, only the memorial for the British officers was adopted as an official point of commemoration (Mwele Ndogo Military Grave), as the locally raised men of the Arab Rifles were deemed to have been sufficiently commemorated by the nameless Askari memorial in Mombasa. In 2026 as part of the Non-Commemoration Programme, this memorial was designated as the official point of commemoration for the 14 men not previously commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.