The Ministry of Health has raised alarm over the worsening conditions at Nairobi’s Lang’ata Cemetery, warning that it may be declared a public health hazard due to overcrowding and lack of proper maintenance.
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Overcrowding Poses Public Health Risks
Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni, while speaking before the Parliamentary Committee on Implementation on April 10, 2025, said Lang’ata Cemetery is dangerously congested. She warned that poor burial practices and limited space are now posing serious environmental and health threats to nearby residents.
“Nairobi County must ensure all operations at Lang’ata Cemetery follow public health standards to avoid disease outbreaks, pollution, and community distress,” Muthoni said.
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Gov’t Eyes Adjacent Land for Expansion
To manage the crisis, the Ministry is proposing the recovery of a five-acre piece of land next to the cemetery. The land is currently occupied by illegal structures, but officials believe reclaiming it is crucial to expanding burial space and improving site conditions.
“We recommend immediate reclamation of the land beside the cemetery. The County should secure proper documentation and use it for cemetery expansion,” added Muthoni.
Safety Concerns and Crime Around the Cemetery
The Ministry also advised Nairobi County to construct a secure perimeter wall around Lang’ata Cemetery. Muthoni noted that the cemetery has become a hotspot for criminal activity and is poorly protected from wildlife intrusion.
Previous Alarming Reports
In 2023, Rangwe MP Dr. Lilian Gogo raised similar concerns. She claimed wild animals were disturbing shallow graves and mutilating human remains. Gogo also alleged that some bodies were being dumped in the open without proper burial, causing unbearable odors in surrounding neighborhoods.
“It is heartbreaking that our dead do not get the dignity they deserve. We cannot allow wild animals to feast on buried bodies or let stench fill our backyards,” she stated.
What Happens Next?
If the Nairobi County Government fails to act promptly, the Ministry of Health may declare the cemetery unsafe and shut it down. This move would affect thousands who depend on the cemetery for burial services in the capital.
