Kenneth Matiba who is considered the father of multi-party democracy in Kenya surprised many when he declared that he did not want a state burial when he died, instead asserting that he should be cremated.
The former Presidential candidate who passed away on April 15 in Nairobi told a local daily in 1994 that he preferred cremation to burial as he did not want “dancing parties and harambees” upon his death.
“After all, the Kikuyu traditionally never buried their dead. They used to take the bodies into the forest to be devoured by hyenas. Was that not wisdom?” he posed.
Interestingly, Matiba is not the first prominent Kenyan who wished to be cremated when they died.
Here are five other public figures who opted for cremation rather than burial:
[caption caption="The late Wangari Maathai receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004"]
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1. Wangari Maathai
The famed conservationist who became the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for her 'contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace' was cremated in 2011 at the Kariokor Crematorium.
Her remains were interred at the Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies in accordance with her wishes.
2. Peter Njiru
A 2-time Africa Classic golf champion, Njiru was cremated in 2015 in a private ceremony at the Kariokor Crematorium.
Njiru had been battling Kidney problems and passed away at the Nazareth Hospital a day after he was admitted to the facility.
3. Peter Habenga Okondo
Okondo was a KANU-era Assistant Minister who was cremated at the Kariokor Crematorium in 1996.
His cremation caused a serious division between his immediate family and members of the Banyala clan who wanted him buried in accordance with tradition.
4. Manasses Kuria and his wife Mary Kuria
The late Anglican archbishop was cremated in 2005 as per his wishes.
With his wife Mary Kuria having also been cremated 3 years earlier at the Lang'ata Crematorium, Manasses' cremation sparked a major debate within the church on cremation and its place in Christianity.
[caption caption="The late Rev Manasse Kuria"]
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5. Joshua Okuthe
A former Chairman of the Kenya National Sports Council, Okuthe was cremated in 2009 at the Kariokor Crematorium by his wife Ruth Okuthe as he had wished.
An empty coffin was buried by his family at his home in Tamu, Muhoroni District.
