Nairobi residents were on Tuesday, January 4 asked to consider being cremated after it emerged that the city’s cemeteries are full.
Speaking to the media, Nairobi County Health CEC Hitan Majevdia advised Kenyans to consider cremating their loved ones upon death.
“We do not have space at Lang’ata or Pangani cemeteries,” he said.
His argument comes just days after the country’s first Attorney General Charles Njonjo was cremated; an action that ignited a national debate.
Encouraging Kenyans to embrace cremation, Majevdia said that the process is considered holy especially within the Hindu culture.
According to him, the process is respectful and should not be seen as simply burning a body.
He said that the process, despite taking a very short time, is beyond throwing the body into the fire and putting the ashes aside.
Some prominent Kenyans who were cremated include Wangari Maathai, Charles Njonjo, Ken Okoth, Kenneth Matiba, Jane Kiano and John Macharia.
