Report Reveals Why Lang’ata Cemetery Should Be Closed
The Lang’ata Cemetery is on the verge of closing after the Ministry of Health raised concerns about the facility’s deteriorating condition.
According to the government, the cemetery was severely overcrowded with bodies, posing a health and safety risk to the public.
Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni expressed worry about the catastrophic state of Lang’ata Cemetery following a select committee’s findings, which revealed significant overcrowding and poor maintenance at the site.
The committee has recommended the Health Ministry issue a formal notification stating that the cemetery is a health danger and overcrowded.
Continued use of Lang’ata Cemetery, despite being declared full nearly two decades ago, poses serious public health concerns, including overcrowding, shallow graves, and exposure of human remains due to interference by wild animals.
— Mary Muthoni Muriuki, CBS, HSC (@psmuthoni) April 8, 2025
The Ministry of Health, through the State… pic.twitter.com/f0TqmAjrTV
“The city-county of Nairobi should ensure all activities taking place in that cemetery comply with public health legal requirements governing such practices to avoid infectious disease spread, social stigma and pollution of the environment,” Health PS Mary Muthoni said.
PS Muthoni stated that if the county administration fails to act, the Ministry of Health will officially label the cemetery a health danger.
One of the main things the ministry wants the county government to do is reclaim a five-acre property adjacent to the cemetery that is thought to have been taken.
The Health Ministry feels that reclaiming the space occupied by residential dwellings will be critical to the cemetery’s expansion.
“Nairobi City County should reclaim grabbed land adjacent to the cemetery for expansion purposes,” the PS added.
“We advise Nairobi City County to be compelled by the National Cemetery to obtain all necessary ownership of documentation for the same land.”
The select committee also raised concerns about safety.
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In recent months, the Lang’ata Cemetery has emerged as a hub for criminal activities, with suspects dumping human remains and other unlawful materials there.
Lang’ata Cemetery ‘To Close’
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) April 13, 2025
Ministry of Health wants the Lang’ata Cemetery closed
MoH says the cemetery is a public health risk
The cemetery was declared full over a decade ago
MoH: Nairobi County must stop shallow grave burials #CitizenSundayLive @KoinangeJeff @OBurrows pic.twitter.com/tloP0x5WLE
The select committee’s findings came two decades after concerns were initially made about Lang’ata Cemetery being overcrowded and unsuitable for future burials.
Since the cemetery opened in 1958, at least 157,000 bodies have been buried there, including some well-known figures.
Despite the fact that the site has long exceeded its intended capacity, approximately 30 bodies are currently buried at Lang’ata Cemetery each week.
Report Reveals Why Lang’ata Cemetery Should Be Closed
