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Liz Jackson questions the purpose of expensive burials
29th July, 2026 01:36 PM
Digital content creator Liz Jackson has sparked debate online after questioning the growing cost of burials, arguing that families should focus more on supporting dependants than spending large amounts of money on funeral arrangements.
In a series of Instagram stories shared on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, Liz wondered why some families set aside hundreds of thousands of shillings for burials while children and other dependants may still need financial support.
Questions high funeral budgets
Liz said she struggles to understand why people organise expensive burials, especially when the deceased has already passed on. She questioned why mourners are sometimes asked to contribute large amounts of money towards funeral expenses.
“Guys, why do people have extravagant burials? The person is already gone. Shouldn’t the money be directed towards the dependants’ school fees, basic needs and other important things? Why am I being added to a burial group with a budget of Ksh900,000? For what exactly?” Liz wrote.
She added that she only understands fundraising when it involves settling medical bills.
“Unless there’s a medical bill, I don’t understand the rest,” she said.
Says mourners should not expect to be fed
Liz also questioned the culture of serving meals to mourners throughout the mourning period, saying families should be allowed to grieve without the added pressure of feeding visitors.
She argued that mourners should instead be considerate of the family’s situation.
“Why are people going to a funeral expecting to be fed every day? Isn’t the family mourning? Why should they still have to cook for everyone? Can’t you eat at home before going to the matanga?” she posed.
To support her point, Liz shared her own family’s experience. “My grandmother’s burial cost a maximum of Ksh150,000, and life went on. What is a Ksh700,000 to Ksh1 million budget for?” she wrote.
Shares what she does not contribute towards
In a separate post, Liz listed other occasions she says she does not contribute money towards, explaining that people should only organise events they can comfortably afford.
The content creator said weddings should not become fundraising events. “Anything marriage-related. You are the ones getting married, so why are we contributing? If you don’t have enough money, just have a wedding at the Attorney General’s office,” Liz said.
She also shared similar views on birthday celebrations. “Why are you planning a birthday party without having the money and then asking people to contribute? It’s your birthday. If people decide to buy you gifts, that’s fine, but don’t demand contributions,” she added.
Liz concluded by saying she also does not contribute towards constant church fundraising drives, questioning why some churches repeatedly ask members to raise money.
“Church things. Why are we constructing every week? Doesn’t the church have a budget, or are we the budget?” Liz asked.
Her remarks have since attracted mixed reactions online, with some social media users agreeing that families should reduce unnecessary expenses, while others argued that funeral and community traditions differ from one family to another.
