Wild animals from the nearby Nairobi National Park are roaming around Langata cemetery and unearthing shallow graves.
This is one of the issues that Lang’ata MP Felix Odiwour alias Jalang’o has highlighted in his motion tabled in National Assembly.
The lawmaker argues that despite the cemetery being declared full about two decades ago, bodies are still be buried there.
“Lang’ata public cemetery was declared full close to two decades ago but this matter has not been addressed,” he stated.
In his motion, Odiwour claims some of the graves are shallow, posing health risks to the public.
The lawmaker has asked ministry of Health to an assessment on risks posed by continued use of the cemetery.
“This situation has led to overcrowding and double allocation of burial sites with bodies being buried in shallow graves leading to frequent uncovering by wild animals from the nearby park,” he stated.
This situation, according the MP, has caused untold anguish, pain suffering to bereaved families and psychological torment to the neighbouring community.
The MP is calling on relevant authorities to institute mitigatory measures beside finding alternative land for burial.
In January 22, Nairobi City County environment unit embarked on cleaning overgrown bushes, weeding, picking litter, mowing, and leveling uneven patches at the public cemetery.
“I issued a directive to the environment team to clear and make the cemetery tidy. We must ensure that we provide dignity to all including the departed,” read a statement from the governor’s office.
Despite the 100-acre cemetery being full bodies continue to arrive every day for burial.
