The renowned Jewish architect who designed Mzee Jomo Kenyatta’s mausoleum

By Standard Reporter

Kenya: The name George Vamos may not ring a bell to many young Kenyans, but for those who recall events of 1960s and 70s, he was one of Kenya’s most renowned architects and painter.

And he left his legacy in Kenya when he was tasked with the sudden assignment to design a mausoleum for the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta in August 1978. He completed the task within days and the mausoleum was ready for Kenyatta’s state funeral on August 31, at Parliament grounds.

Vamos’ early life was a struggle. He was among a wave of European Jews at the beginning of the 20th century whose lives were a collection of contradictions and hardships.

Born in 1910 in Budapest, Hungary, Vamos studied architecture in Vienna, Austria. It was during this era that fascism started rearing its ugly head across Europe.

Like many before him, he chose to escape and took a job in Iraq working for the British government. Later, he joined the British armed forces. Because he was born in Hungary, he was not considered a British subject but was regarded as an “alien”. As the Second World War progressed, he was interned, along with hundreds of other aliens in Uganda.

He was later released from the internment camp and even served in the British army yet again. During his time in Uganda, he fell in love with the continent. 

After his demobilisation in 1946 following the end of the war, he was reluctant to return to Europe where most of his relatives had already perished under Nazi extermination before Europe was liberated. He chose to settle in Nairobi and opened an architectural firm with his partner, Heini Lustman.

It was here that he met and fell in love with Soedi (pronounced Soo-dee), his life partner who shared in his passions. They had a son, Geza.

His family later moved to Vancouver, Canada, during Vamos’ sunset years where he eventually passed on.