Lang’ata Cemetery Faces Closure Over Health, Safety Concerns

The Lang’ata Cemetery in Nairobi may soon be shut down after the Ministry of Health raised serious concerns about its current state, calling it a public health hazard.

According to Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni, the cemetery is overcrowded with bodies, making it unsafe for the public and violating health regulations. A recent report by a select committee revealed poor maintenance and severe congestion at the site.

“The city-county of Nairobi should ensure all activities at the cemetery meet public health laws to prevent disease outbreaks, environmental pollution, and social stigma,” PS Muthoni said.

The Health Ministry is now urging Nairobi County to take immediate action, including issuing a formal health alert over the cemetery’s condition. If the county government fails to respond, the Ministry of Health is ready to officially declare Lang’ata Cemetery a health hazard.

One of the main recommendations from the ministry is for the county to reclaim a five-acre piece of land next to the cemetery, which is believed to have been grabbed and developed into residential property. The ministry says this land is crucial for expanding the cemetery to ease the congestion.

“Nairobi City County should recover the land next to the cemetery and secure full ownership to allow for expansion,” PS Muthoni added.

The committee also raised security concerns, noting that the cemetery has become a hotspot for crime, with suspects using it as a dumping site for human remains and other illegal items.

This warning comes nearly 20 years after experts first sounded the alarm over Lang’ata Cemetery being nearly full and unfit for new burials. Since its opening in 1958, over 157,000 people have been laid to rest at the site, including prominent national figures.