By the time she stepped into the lectern, the conference hall at the UN Offices at Nairobi (UNON) had fallen into a silence so complete, it felt deliberate.
At 89, Ms. Wanda Albinski is among the last living survivors of the Holocaust in the world. Her body is slight, her voice soft and quiet-but when she speaks, History leans forward.
¡°I was not meant to have a life after 1942. I was meant to disappear in a train wagon, in a gas chamber, or in massive grave¡± but survived due to, ¡°a victory of human solidarity over hatred.¡±
Over 80 years after her ordeal, Ms. Albinski travelled from South Africa to Nairobi, courtesy of the Embassy of Israel in Kenya to share her testimony under the theme, Holocaust Remembrance for Dignity and Human Rights.
Accompanied by her son Luc, narrated her horrifying testimony before more than 500 people including members of the diplomatic Corps, government officials, religious clergy, civil society organisations, UN Officials and students who had gathered at UNON in remembrance of Victims and survivors of the Holocaust on 27th January 2026.
Participants at the International Day of commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust at the United Nations Office at Nairobi
The survivor, a Polish Jew, was a child when the world she knew collapsed and all childhood was lost.
Ms. Albinski shared fond memories of her mother - a Polish Jew named Dr. Halina Rotstein - whom she described as a highly committed medical doctor and mother who eventually courageously sacrificed herself during the deportation from the Warsaw Ghetto in 1942 - never to be seen again.
Ms. Albinski narrated how, in the midst of the terror, she survived by chance by the mercy of strangers - Zegota - an underground group that helped Jews and Catholic doctors who risked their lives by taking her in.
¡°Not everyone lost their humanity, even in the terror, some people chose to help. Even when they knew they would be killed for helping.¡±
Since its establishment in 1940, hundreds of thousands of Jews were forced into the overcrowded Warsaw Ghetto where hunger, sickness and courage persisted. Generations of professionals were exterminated due to hatred and antisemitism. Neighbours vanished suddenly and survival depended on silence.
Entire branches of her family were erased.
Ms Wanda Albinski, Holocaust survivor is assisted to light a candle by her son Luc during the Holocaust Commemoration Day at UN Office in Nairobi. Photo credit: UNIS Nairobi/Tirus Wainaina
The 89-year-old survivor told the audience how testifying consoled her with the feeling of carrying with her, ¡°the voices of those who did not survive including her mother, cousins, neighbours among others.¡±
Lessons and forgiveness
Ms. Wanda shared three lessons learned from her mother-that; Human dignity cannot be taken away, helping others is a form of resistance and no life is worth more than another.
She also engaged students from Kenya in a dialogue responding to their questions.
Protecting our Humanity
The survivor who was born before the United Nations, emphasised the importance of the organisation to uphold its promise ¡°for human rights, dignity and protection for the weak.¡±
Ms. Albinski urged diplomats and policy makers, ¡°to fight antisemitism, reject Holocaust denial, protect minorities, defend truth and support education that teaches empathy and history.¡±
For Africa, her message was clear-, ¡°Africa knows the pain of being dehumanised, the cost of mass violence and justice and hence the continent in particular should remember that every life has equal value, hatred must be stopped early and the world must not look away.¡±
