Shame of Nakuru's dead not resting in peace: County fights claims of night exhumations, reuse of graves
What you need to know:
- Grave recycling has become the norm for many families unable to afford alternative options.
- Temporary graves, often unmarked or sparsely maintained, are the most commonly reused.
A man with hardened hands and a weathered face cautiously digs into the soil of an overgrown cemetery, carefully avoiding the remains of a long-forgotten grave.
It is a grim routine task born of necessity as space for burying the dead in this bustling Rift Valley city of Nakuru has become increasingly scarce.
This is the stark reality facing Nakuru’s cemeteries which have reached capacity, forcing families and local authorities to make desperate decisions.
From recycling graves to burying loved ones in unauthorized plots, Nakuru residents are grappling with a burial crisis that has profound cultural, economic and emotional implications.
Nakuru’s population has exceeding 400,000 and has has outgrown its cemeteries. The city’s two main graveyards, Nakuru North and Nakuru South, were declared full more than a decade ago.
Cattle graze at Nakuru North Cemetery on November 28, 2024.
While Gilgil Cemetery still has some space, other areas such as Njoro and Naivasha face similar shortages.
And to cope, gravediggers have resorted to reusing old graves often without families' knowledge or consent. Footpaths and fences have become de facto burial grounds as the city struggles to accommodate its dead.
On November 25, a resident recorded a video at Nakuru South Cemetery that has since gone viral. It showed gravediggers exhuming skeletons and repacking remains into cement gunny bags to make room for new graves.
The video caused outrage with residents accusing cemetery workers of desecrating graves and disregarding cultural values.
“Grave diggers are abusing the rights of the dead. A cemetery is supposed to be the final resting place for the dead. But the dead in Nakuru no longer rest in peace,"Ms Sarah Kwamboka, a resident of Nakuru told the Saturday Nation.
"We want the county government to prioritize the issue of alternative graveyards for residents of Nakuru. Recycling of burial space is unacceptable and disrespectful to the dead.
"This has been the trend. It is advisable to have your loved one's resting place secured by cementing to a specific standard. The officials who run the cemetery usually dig out and burn the remains into ashes to create space for more bodies. We have always seen people burning skulls and skeletons near the Nakuru South cemetery," said Lucy Karanja a resident neighboring the cemetery.
Another resident Joyce Wanjiku wants the county government to act swiftly and ensure the dead are accorded a more dignified resting place.
"No human dignity here, even the dead can't rest in peace. We want the county government to urgently secure an alternative cemetery because the two a available ones were filled up several years ago. For how long are we going to witness this kind of incidents?" wondered Wanjiku.
However, Nakuru County Government through a statement denied the allegations claiming the viral video was misleading.
"The county government wishes to address claims circulating on social media regarding the alleged exhumation of bodies at the Nakuru South Cemetery. We urge members to disregard the misleading video circulating online and avoid sharing unverified information that may cause unnecessary alarm. The county government of Nakuru remains steadfast in its commitment to preserve the dignity of all cemeteries honoring the trust placed in us by families of the departed."
Right: A man displays pieces of human bones at Nakuru North Cemetery on November 28, 2024. Left: A human skull at Nakuru North Cemetery.
"Cemeteries are sacred and legally protected areas and exhumations are strictly regulated by the Public Health Act Cap 242.They can only happen under specific provisions such as a valid permit or court order. The Nakuru County Government has not authorized ,nor conducted any exhumations at the Nakuru South Cemetery," said Health Executive Roslyn Mungai.
Ms Mungai insisted that recent activities at the cemetery such as clearing overgrown bushes and waste management were conducted respectfully.
But a visit to the cemetery by Saturday Nation painted a different and grim picture.
Gravesites were overrun with bushes and livestock grazed freely. In one section, we spotted human remains, including skulls, near fresh graves.
Grave recycling has become the norm for many families unable to afford alternative options.
Nation.Africa established that temporary graves, often unmarked or sparsely maintained, are the most commonly reused.
A gravedigger at Nakuru South Cemetery speaking anonymously explained the grim realities saying: “We mostly recycle temporary graves, but even permanent ones are sometimes reused. Families rarely visit the temporary sections so they are flattened to make room for new burials.”
The lack of space has also created an underground market for burial plots.
Brokers and cartels charge families exorbitant amounts to secure graves.
“Securing a grave can cost between Sh8,000 and Sh20,000 depending on the location and size,” said Joseph Kimani, a Bondeni resident.
Official fees at Nakuru North Cemetery are set at Sh20,000 for adults and Sh10,000 for children, but families often pay more due to the involvement of middlemen.
A family prepares to bury their loved one at Nakuru North Cemetery on November 28, 2024.
“I spent Sh15,000 to bury my grandmother excluding other costs. It was a nightmare dealing with brokers. I had to pass through atleast three people, and finally I parted with about Sh15,000,just for a grave. With other costs, we ended up spending more money than budgeted for, in the entire exercise,” said Peter Ndung’u.
One proposed solution to Nakuru’s burial crisis is cremation which could reduce the pressure on cemeteries.
Governance expert David Kimani supported this for a for a cultural shift.
“Residents should begin embracing cremation as the county continues its search for alternative land,” he said.
However, cremation remains deeply unpopular among most Kenyan communities, who associate it with cultural taboos and religious beliefs.
“Why would I cremate a loved one? It feels like sending them to hell,” said Jeremiah Ombati, reflecting a sentiment shared by many residents.
Currently, the city’s only crematorium located near Nakuru South Cemetery is used primarily by the Hindu community. Other communities, including the Luhya, Kalenjin, and Abagusii, consider cremation unnatural and disrespectful.
In a surprise turn of events, Nakuru County Government Director of Public Health Elizabeth Kiptoo has stopped burials at the Nakuru South cemetery, saying residents will be directed to nearby graveyards in Rongai and Bahati Sub-counties.
"The county government has closed down the Nakuru South cemetery and ordered any more burials to be conducted in other graveyards in Rongai and Bahati Sub-counties," said Ms Kiptoo.
On why it has been difficult for the county government to secure alternative land for a cemetery, authorities say communities bordering parcels of land earmarked for graveyards have been resisting the project.
“Many communities don’t want a cemetery next to their residential places but as a county, we are determined to get one and soon we shall get alternative burial space,” revealed Ms Kiptoo.
"The county faces a big dilemma in its search for land for an alternative cemetery, but we are having talks with the communities and very soon, the county will acquire a new cemetery land," added the official.
But the cemetery crisis is not new.
Since the advent of devolution in 2013, Nakuru County has allocated millions of shillings in its budgets for acquiring new burial grounds.
However, no tangible progress has been made.
In the 2014/2015 financial year, Sh84 million was set aside for purchase of a 20-acre alternative parcel of land for a public cemetery.
Another Sh30 million was allocated in the 2015/2016 budget, Sh40 million in 2016/2017 and a similar amount in 2017/2018.
In the 2019/2020 financial year, another Sh20 million was set aside to purchase land for a cemetery.
However, acquiring land for a cemetery has proved a tall order for the county government since the advent of revolution.
Sometimes it is not even possible to bury them the requisite six feet under,but families -especially the poor - have limited options.
But intrestingly ,the demand for both cemeteries still remains high as residents have no option.
Investigations by the Saturday Nation have revealed that between 15-20 graves are re-opened each week on average to allow for second burials in Nakuru North and South cemeteries.
Fortunately, the dead cannot talk, therefore they cannot complain about being buried on top of others.
However, residents say, it is against traditions and beliefs of various communities to bury people on top of others.
“Where will we bury our loved ones? This is a big dilemma that Governor Susan Kihika's administration must move swiftly and address. The situation is dire, because in the next few years ,we will have no space to bury our loved ones," said a resident John Kimani.
"Our culture does not allow a person to be buried on top of another. Besides it is very disrespectful to the dead," added Mr Kimani.
Thousands of bodies have been buried in the Nakuru North and South cemeteries since they were established several years ago.
