Cemeteries in Kenya are treated as places of honor, places where the remains of our loved ones are laid until we meet again.  In essence, finding a cemetery becomes a major priority when a loved one breath their last. It is always a great honor to give a deceased keen a memorable sendoff by burring them in a befitting graveyard.

Cemeteries in Kenya are classified according to religions (Muslim cemeteries, Christian Cemeteries, Jew Cemeteries etc.), and military affiliation (like the war memorial cemeteries). Currently, the Kenyan government has worked with the help of local agencies and communities to establish cemeteries and grave yards in major towns and cities.

Here’s the lit of cemeteries in Kenya

• Nairobi War Memorial Cemetery

The War Memorial Cemetery was founded in 1942 as a graveyard for the casualties from the Second World War. Located in the south-western outskirts of Nairobi, the War Memorial Cemetery is only 10 kilometers away from the city center on Ngong Road. It is adjacent to the Nairobi race course and part of the Ngong Forest Reserve. The cemetery is open for visitation every day between 6AM and 6PM.

• Nairobi Park Cemetery

Also referred to as the Nairobi City Park Cemetery, the Nairobi Park Cemetery is located towards the northern part of the Forest Road Cemetery and the city park. Open all times, the cemetery has one Commonwealth burial for WWII burial and cares for 80 non-war burials.

• The Forest Road Cemetery

The Forest Road Cemetery has been classified as a large civil graveyard located only 3 kilometers to the northern parts of the city center off Thika Road and near the Pangani roundabout.  The cemetery is open between 6am and 6pm. Headstone inscriptions can be bought from the centers nearby.

• Muslim Cemetery

Also called the Nairobi (Quarry Road) Muslim Cemetery, the Muslim Cemetery is located in Nairobi’s Kariokor district only 2 kilometers from the city center and 250 meters down Quarry Road. It is dedicated for Muslims in the city. Headstone inscriptions in the Muslim Cemetery are written in Arabic.

• Langata Cemetery

Langata Cemetery is probably one of the biggest graveyards in Kenya’s capital.  It is only an hour drive from the city center and the place where most “commoners” are laid to rest at a cost of up to KSh. 8,500. The cemetery is open for visitation between 6AM and 6PM. Headstone inscriptions can be bought from nearby shopping centers.

• Aga Khan Shia Imami Khoja Ismaili Cemetery

The Aga Khan Shia Imami Khoja Ismaili Cemetery is dedicated for laying t rest the remains of Shia Imami Ismaili believers. It is located along Quarry Road near the Muslim Cemetery. Headstone inscriptions are readily available in the surrounding shopping centers.

Cemeteries in Kenya (Nakuru)

• Gilgil War Cemetery

The Gilgil War Cemetery is set aside for the Muslim community. The cemetery was founded in the early 1940s to lay to rest the bodies of WWII fighters. It is located abut 4 kilometers from Gilgil town and 400 meters to the left of the Gilgil railway crossing. Headstones can be found in Gilgil town and locations close to the cemetery.

• The Nakuru North Cemetery

The Nakuru North Cemetery is the largest in the county and is located within the town. It is located to the left of the Nakuru- Nairobi highway on entering the town. The cemetery was founded in 1918 as a resting place for the WWI victims.  To date, the cemetery harbors 27 Commonwealth burials from the WWI and 45 from WWII. The Nakuru North Cemetery is open for visitation everyday from 6am to 6pm.

• The Nakuru South Cemetery

The Nakuru South Cemetery is located within Nakuru Town and to the left of the Nakuru-Nairobi highway.  The cemetery lies only 10 meters from the sprawling slum of Manyani. Open between 6 AM and 6 PM, the Nakuru South cemetery has faced massive criticisms from the locals as an epicenter of poor urban planning. You will have to hire a tent (from local vendors nearby) any time you plan to lay your loved one to rest at the Nakuru South Cemetery. Headstones can be found affordably in the Manyani shopping center or in  Nakuru town.

• The Nakuru Hindu Crematorium

Crematorium services have gained wide acceptance in the Kenyan space. While the Nakuru Hindu crematorium was previously dedicated for Hindus, it is open for people from other religions who had the will for their remains to be taken through this procedure. The Nakuru Hindu crematorium borders the Nakuru North cemetery.

• The Gilgil Cemetery

The Gilgil cemetery is located about 5 kilometers from Gilgil town center and next to the expansive Site Estate. It is about 25 kilometers from Naivasha and 47 kilometers from Nakuru town and borders the Marura farm.

• The Naivasha cemetery

The Naivasha cemetery is a public institution under the management of the Nakuru county government and close to the Naivasha District hospital. It is about 100 meters to the right of the district hospital. Headstone inscriptions can be found in Naivasha town.

• The Longonot cemetery

The Longonot cemetery is a public facility under the management of the County Government of Nakuru. Located n Naivasha town, the Longonot cemetery started receiving bodies after the Naivasha cemetery was declared full.

• Molo cemetery

 Molo cemetery is located 27 kilometers from Nakuru town and was created to serve the locals in Rongai, Molo, Eldama Ravine, and Elburghon.

• Bahati cemetery

The Bahati cemetery is located in Bahati subcounty in Nakuru county. It is the newest public cemetery in Nakuru town under the governance of the Nakuru county government. The Bahati cemetery is located about 6 kilometers from Nakuru town and about 2 kilometers from Nakuru’s Lanet Military Barracks  in Wanyororo. The cemetery was started after the Nakuru South and Nakuru North cemeteries were declared full. Headstones can be bought in Lanet, Nakuru town or Naivasha.

• Njoro cemetery

 Njoro cemetery is a public facility located about 20 kilometers from Nakuru town and 500 meters from Njoro town.  The cemetery is divided into two; one part meant to serve Christians while the other is meant to serve Muslims. Headstones can be bought in Nakuru town.