Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Scout movement, retired to Nyeri with his wife Olave in 1938 and spent the last three years of his life here. He chose Kenya for its climate and for the view of Mount Kenya from his cottage at the Outspan Hotel. He is buried at St Peter's Church on the edge of town, in a simple grave under a flat stone that has become a pilgrimage site for Scouts from around the world.
The churchyard is small, quiet, and shaded by old jacarandas; on a clear morning the snowcap of Mount Kenya rises behind the trees. Visitors are welcome to come and pay their respects without notice. There is no entrance fee; a small donation to the church is appreciated.