Changing burial traditions, why many families are choosing simpler send-offs

Burial rites in Kenya have long been elaborate affairs, steeped in culture and community expectations.

Funerals meant several nights of vigil, the slaughtering of animals for mourners, and, most importantly, transporting the body back to the ancestral home.

In some cases, families without rural land had to buy plots to ensure the deceased could be buried at home.

But today, a quiet revolution is underway. Across the country, families are beginning to abandon these elaborate customs in favour of simpler, more practical, and less costly ways of saying goodbye.

In cities like Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu, the high costs of transporting bodies to rural areas and accommodating extended family expectations have forced many to reconsider traditional approaches.

For some, the practicality of burying loved ones in nearby public cemeteries has become a preferred option. Others are embracing cremation as a cost-efficient and dignified alternative.

Prominent figures leading the change

The trend is not just among ordinary families but has also been highlighted in high-profile funerals of prominent figures.

One notable example is the late Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) General Francis Ogolla. Before his death in April 2024, he left explicit instructions that he be buried within four days, without fanfare. His wishes were respected, and his burial became a point of conversation nationwide about the evolving nature of funerals in Kenya.

Celebrities, too have opted for simpler send-offs. The late actor Mzee Ojwang was laid to rest in 2020 in a relatively modest ceremony compared to the grandeur often associated with public figures.

Prominent examples of change

Recent high-profile burials have brought this shift into the public eye.

• General Francis Ogolla: The late Chief of Defence Forces made headlines in April 2024 when his family revealed his instructions to be buried within four days of his death. The restraint in pomp and ceremony sparked national conversation, with many Kenyans pointing out that the general had captured a growing preference for dignity over extravagance.

• Celebrities in public cemeteries: In Nairobi, several entertainers and public figures have chosen to be buried in Lang’ata Cemetery rather than being transported to rural homes. The late comedian Othuol Othuol, for instance, was laid to rest in 2020 in a simple ceremony, showing that even public figures are not immune to the practical realities families face.
  Reggae MCs Jahmby Koikai and MC Fullstop were also laid to rest in Langata cemetery.

• The rise of cremation: Increasingly, African families are embracing cremation, once seen as taboo. Beyond the Hindu and Asian communities that have long practised it, more Kenyans are now choosing it for loved ones.
  Cremation eliminates the cost of coffins, transport, and land purchase—making it an option that fits modern urban life.

These examples reflect a broader societal shift, where simplicity is no longer seen as dishonour but as practicality and respect for the wishes of the deceased.

Why funerals are changing

Several factors explain why Kenyans are rethinking burial traditions:

1. Economic pressure: With the high cost of living, many families cannot afford multi-day funerals or the expectation of feeding hundreds of mourners. Simple, quick ceremonies are more affordable.

2. Urbanisation: Many Kenyans today are born and raised in cities, with weaker ties to ancestral land. For them, burial in city cemeteries or cremation feels natural.

3. Land scarcity: Rural land is increasingly limited. Some families no longer have ancestral homes, while urban dwellers rarely own land for burials. Public cemeteries and cremation solve this challenge.

4. Generational change: Younger Kenyans are more pragmatic. They view long vigils and expensive rituals as unnecessary burdens on the living.

5. Personal wishes: As seen in General Ogolla’s case, more people are leaving instructions for modest funerals, reflecting a desire to free families from financial and logistical strain.