Governor Mike Sonko, through City Hall, has come out to ask Nairobi residents to cremate the dead in a move meant to ease pressure on the already filled up Langata Cemetery.
To support this, the county government has reduced cremation fees and hiked the costs of buying in both temporary and permanent graves.
Health executive Hitan Majevda stated: "Cremation is economical, fast and hygienic. It costs only Sh13,000. The land is scarce and is getting more expensive every day.”
Majevda stated: "Whether final disposition is by burial or cremation, the Christian church should offer a funeral liturgy in which the reality of death is not camouflaged and the resurrection of the body is affirmed.”
[caption caption="A man watching the cremation"]
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However, Nairobi residents prefer to bury their loved ones in their home villages upcountry, but they tend to incur the high cost of transport and other funeral expenses.
The County's Health executive noted: “We solemnize the departure of our loved ones by reminding ourselves that we brought nothing into this world and that we can carry nothing out. Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.”
The county government currently charges Ksh13,000 for cremating adults, Ksh6,000 for children and Ksh4,000 for infants.
It costs Ksh30,500 for the burial of adults on a permanent grave in Langata cemetery and permanent graves for non-citizens cost Ksh50,000 for adults, Ksh35,000 for children and Ksh27,500 for infants.
Burying children who die in Nairobi incurs a cost of up to Ksh22,500 and infants Ksh15,500, while the fee for children from other counties is Ksh28,500 and infants Ksh21,500.
[caption caption="Graves seen on the children section of the Langata cemetery"]
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If one wants a temporary grave, they will be required to pay Ksh7,000 for an adult, Ksh4,000 for a child and Ksh2,000 for an infant.
