Lang’ata Cemetery is the most popular in Nairobi despite the city being home to nine public cemeteries.
The nine cemeteries in Nairobi are Langata, Forest Road, Pangani, Mutuini, Uthiru, Southlands, Kariokor Christian, Ruai, and Land next to NPS.
According to Chief Officer for Public Health Tom Nyakaba, most people prefer burying their loved ones at Lang’ata due to various reasons including accessibility and good transport.
“If you look at where Langata is located, many people can easily access the place at once without much help. Its strategic location also gives easier transport options, whether private or public,” Nyakaba said in a past interview with The Star.
The cemetery has a capacity of about 2,000 graves including permanent and temporary graves which are charged differently.
Nyakaba noted that temporary graves can be used by more than one but permanent are for one body.
“Because of land limitations, we use the public health laws to ensure we can use one grave for more than one body. It is allowed and is not illegal. We only do it because of space issues,” Nyakaba said.
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For a permanent grave at the cemetery, charges are Sh30,500 for adult Kenyans in Nairobi, Sh15,500 for infants, and Sh22,500 for children between 1 and 15 years.
On the other hand, non-citizens are required to pay permanent grave charges of Sh50,000 for adults, Sh35,000 for children, and Sh27,500 for infants.
For a temporary grave, charges are Sh7,000 for adults, Sh4,000 for children, and Sh2,000 for infants.
Process of burying a loved one at Langata
Permits and Documentation– A burial permit is required and is issued after the cause of death has been established and registration of the death.
Choosing a Grave– Families of the deceased must decide between a temporary or permanent grave, depending on their budget and preferences.
Payment- The required fee, whether for a permanent or temporary grave is paid to the Nairobi City Council, which manages the cemetery.
Burial– Once payment is made, the grave is either prepared in advance or dug on the day of the burial. The exact location within the cemetery is assigned based on available space.
Post-Burial Considerations– For permanent graves, families often choose to place markers or headstones. In contrast, temporary graves provide limited opportunities for personalization due to the absence of long-term maintenance.
Some of Kenya’s public figures who have had their final rest at the cemetery are veteran broadcaster Leonard Mambo Mbotela, media personality, and women’s health advocate Jahmby Koikai, legendary Vitimbi comedian Mzee Ojwang, and volleyball icon Janet Wanja.
