Gov't probes Langata cemetery burials amid concerns over identity, cause of death

In a press statement issued on Monday, Cabinet Secretary Hannah Wendot Cheptumo conveyed condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased, saying the government remains committed to upholding the dignity of every life and ensuring vulnerable persons are treated with compassion and respect, both in life and in death.

According to preliminary information cited in the statement, nine bodies were released from City Mortuary and Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital Mortuary and buried on January 29, 2026. The deceased were reported to be male adults, except for one infant.

The ministry said the bodies had reportedly been held in the mortuaries for several months in 2025, and that the burials were facilitated by well-wishers and community-based organisations.

However, the ministry said it was not informed of the developments before the burials. It added that no official post-mortem reports or verified medical documentation have been provided to confirm the identities of the deceased, the causes of death, or the circumstances surrounding their hospitalisation and deaths.

The government is now working with the Nairobi City County, the Ministry of Health and other relevant agencies to establish accurate records — including age, gender, identity and cause of death — and to determine whether the deceased were members of street-connected populations.

Cheptumo said the government remains concerned about the welfare, dignity and safety of all vulnerable persons, including those living and working on the streets.

She also cited progress in the rehabilitation of street families, noting that the 2025 National Census of Street Families indicated a reduction in the street population from 46,936 in 2018 to 18,049. 

She attributed the gains to coordinated rescue, rehabilitation, reintegration, psychosocial support, education and economic empowerment programmes implemented with county governments, civil society organisations and development partners.

The ministry reiterated its commitment to strengthening systems for early identification, rescue, care, protection and reintegration of vulnerable persons, and to ensuring that all deaths are handled with dignity, accountability and in accordance with the law.